"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
WANNA BE LIKE
THEY WANNA BE LIKE MIKE-THEY WANNA BE MY MIC-SO I CAN SPIT ON EM AND BLESS THEM-THEY WANNA INHERIT DA LESSONZ-IT'S LIKE I OWN THE HORNETS TEAM-THEY ON MY HORN DATS ET-MY SCI FI PIPE ON TEEDALEE-I GOT BLUE STRIPES ASK MICCEY'S-GREEN BOTTLE KINGZ-WE STUFFIN BIG BOOTS LIKE ITALY-IF THE BOOT IS FIT TO ME-THEN I STASH GOODIEZ IN IT HOODY MAVERICC GEE-MY KID GONNA COME OUT WITH DA AMBILICAL CORD WRAPPED AROUND HIS HEAD-LIKE A C-RAG THROWIN UP THA C AS HE TAKES HIS FIRST BREATH-IMA REAL N.I.G.G.A TO THA Z-"NINJAZ IN GORILLA GEAR AS ZULUS" RIDIN WITH ME-PAPER OR PLASTIC TAMPAX OR MAXI-THROW THEM PUSSY NIGGAZ IN DA BAG-IN DA PEN I'M DA GOAT RAM-WE SACRAFICE SORRY RAPPERS ON DA PENTAGRAM-I GOT THESE SCARY CATS SINGING CLUTCHING THEY TEDDY PENTAGRASS-I'M DA GREATEST OF ALL TIME DEM FAKES BEEN IN DA GRASS-BAR FOR BAR POUND 4 POUND-STAR FOR STAR SOUND 4 SOUND-THEM PUNKS USE OTHER PUNKS TO GET THEY FIREWORKS LIT-TO GET THEY ROCCETS OFF THEY PAY THEM PICOLO PETE DICCS-THEY DOPING IN TRACK-THEY CHEATING BUYING STREAMS NEW CRACC-FOR THEY VIDEOS, SONGS, AND TRACKS-WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT?-SAME FIELD OF TRACKS-NO PUN BY THAT-SAME TRACK-SHOULD BE STRIPPED OF MEDALS, AWARDS, AND PLAQUES-I USE THE SOUND LIKE THE BLIND-LIKE THE CHAMELIONS 3RD EYE-IT'S NOT DEAD JUST IMMORTALIZED-MORE ALIVE TO DA NAKED EYE-PUT SOME CLOTHES A PIRATE PATCH ON DEM HATERS EYES-MAKE DEY BOOTY DROP A SIZE-RUB SALT IN DEY EYES-UNTIL THEY CRY LIQUID PEPPER-DEY WANNA BE LIKE ME DA ONE DUECE STEPPER-I'M LOOKIN FOR LOVE IN ALL DA WRONG PLACES-MRS.RIGHT ON DA LEFTSIDE WITH DA BEST BIG FACES-I GOT THE GOOGLE CROME BOUT TO PICC UP-LIKE DEM SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS ON MAGNETIC CLUMP-SOME RAINBOW BUDZ-THRU THESE KUSHY CRYSTALIZED SLUMZ-WHAT IS THIS LORHOLE AND HARD DEE?-WHAT ARE THESE PUNKS FAVORITE TEAM?-THE MINNESOTA TWINS ON BIG DICC MOUNTAIN TOP PEAK?-I'M OLD SCHOOL SHE IS TOO-SHE WORKS IT LIKE A HELLISH PRO-UNTIL IT'S YELLOW-KAZENOVA LOCCING DOWN CELEBRITY FEMALEZ IN HIS TINY HOUSES-FOR YOUR F.Y.I I FEED THEM LIKE MOUSES-AND THEY GAVE ME ALL THEY CHEESE-NOW WE GETTING LOW LIKE DA RATKING-UNDERGROUND BELOW DA STREETS-IT'S DA NEW PIED PIPER OF HAMLIN-LIKE HAMMEL PLUS BROOKLYN-YOU SEE THEY NEW BOOTYS ON FACEBOOK-THAT'S WHY THEY TALK TO THEM FAKE CROOKZ-THAT'S WHY I'M STILL FREE I DON'T TALK TO THEM FAKE HOOKZ-THEY MADE 2 SHOOK-FUCCING WITH THEM WILL GET YOUR BIG FACE TOOK-I KEEP MY CRIP CARD DA CLEANEST C.I.P TO RAY & TOOK-TO GHOST, RASCAL, WICCED, KICCER, HITMAN, NOSEY, AND SPOOK-WE KEEP DEY MEMORIEZ ALIVE LIKE A REAL HOMIE SHOULD-1982 BROOKLYN AVENUE ORIGINAL HOOD-GOT ME KNOCCIN ON BLEAKWOOD-I KEEP IT HOOD-YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH ME HOLLA HIT THAT FACEBOOK INBOX-SIGN SOME PAPERWORK SEE ME IN DA BOX-12 ROUNDS WON'T HURT ME I'M FROM DA MURDA BLOCC-AND WITH DAT SAID ONCE AGAIN I'M WAITING ON YOU-PUSSIES RUNNIN YOUR DICC FLAPPERS DATS ON YOU-DON'T MESS WITH MY PEEPZ COME MESS WITH ME-YOU GOTTA PROBLEM WITH ME? COME SPEAK IT TO ME-JASON KAZELOON YONAI DATS WHERE YOUR DM SUPPOSE TO GO-TALK IS CHEAP BITCH DATS WHY YOU GET YOUR FACE BROKE-HOW YOU GONNA SEE THE GOAT?-WHEN U AIN'T GREAT AT ALL-WE BEEN CALLING YOU OUT FROM BEHIND THE WALLS-IT'S KINDA FUNNY I CAN'T HEAR YOU EVEN IF U DID HOLLA U AIN'T GOT NO BALLS-IF ONLY I COULD FILM MY OWN EPISODE AND ASK INMATES ON LOCK UP RAW-THEY'LL PUT YOU ON BLAST WE KNOW WHO YOU REALLY ARE-WE AIN'T FIRING IT UP EVEN IN DA BEASTS BELLY DA YARD-I GOT A DICC-BIGGER THEN A PIT-CALL ME ASIATIC MR.FALCON WHAT BITCH-WANNA LOCC WIT IT?-I'M LOOKIN FOR A VICC-LIKE MY MIC THAT I SPLIT-YOU'S A BEAGLE LIKE SNOOP I PUT YOUR CAREER TO SLEEP CITCH-I FEEL YA WEREWOLF SYNDROME MUTHAFUCCAZ CUHZ I GOT A BIG FOOT-MY DAUGHTER KICC IT HARDER THEN POLYMELIA THEY WAY I KICC JEWELS-I SLAP A STUPID CITCH UNTIL I GOT MACRODACTYLY-THAT'S HOW DIS MAC ROLL AIN'T NO ACTING GEE-MAKE HER CRY UNTIL SHE SWIMMING WITH DA MACKAREL AT SEA-MACC A CELEBRITY HOE AT EASE-THAT'S WHY DEY WANNA MACC A HOE LIKE ME-DEM HOEZ WANNA BE THEY WANNA BE LIKE MIKE-MY MIC DAT IS-MY BULLHORN SO LONG WHO NEEDS DA EXTRA EQUIP?-I'M 2 GOOD LIKE BBQ HOT SAUCE AND KETCHUP ON EVERYTHANG-DEEP FRIED IS MY STYLE I BRING DA FLAVOR OUT OF EVERYTHANG-I SWEAR I DON DRILLED BILLIONS OF HOES-THE ONLY THING I REGRET IS I DIDN'T TRILL OUT DEY THROAT-2PAC LEFT ME DA KEYS SO U KNOW I'M DA GOAT-IT'S BEEN KNOWN-I JUST GOT AT HIM ON THE OUIJA BOARD TO LOC-DAT I DIPPED IN BLOOD OF GOAT-EYE OF NEWTALL CHAMELION-WE ALREADY MADE A MILLION-THEY SAID THERE'S ONLY ONE CROWN-I TOLD EM GO AHEAD & WEAR IT IMA BLOW IT OFF YO CROWN-IMA PUT YA IN DA GROUND-IN DA MOUND-AND STEP ON YA WITH DIS CY FOREVA YUNG SOUND-YOU PAY FOR MILLIONS OF STREAMS FOR YOUR OWN SOUNDS-SO HOW-ARE YOU CONTENDING FOR ONLY ONE CROWN?-AND POINT OUT NOW-WHERE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY RULEBOOK WHOEVER SELLS THE MOST HAS DA CROWN-IT'S WHOEVER PUTS IT DOWN-THA HARDEST MATERIAL WISE SOUND 4 SOUND-POUND 4 POUND-HAS THE REAL CROWN-YOUR BURGER KING CROWN-MADE OUT OF PAPER YOU BOUGHT WITH PAPER DON'T COUNT-YOU RECYCLING YOUR MONEY WITH STREAMS-DOING THE REVERSE OSMOSIS IS THE RECORD COMPANIES-YOU JUST THEY AQUAFEINA SPOKESPERSON-IT CAN'T GET NO CLEANER DA WAY I SPOKE ON IT 4 CERTAIN-IF IT CAN'T GET NO LEANER FUCC DA WORLD I POKE ON EARTHS SURFACE-THESE NINJAZ CONFUSED-THEY WANNA BE LIKE GOONZ-THAT TURN SAGOON-OR BEEN SINGING THAT GAY TUNE-NO DISS TO GAY DUDES-THESE NIGGAZ KILL YOU JUST TO LOSE-A GAME THEY COULDA JUICED-INSTEAD THEY NEVER MADE IT TO THAT ROOF-THEY WILL NEVER FALL OFF THAT ROOF-TO OBTAIN THE JUICE-PLUS THEY AFRAID OF HEIGHTS THAT'S DA PROOF-HOW THEY GONNA RISE-ABOVE DA STRIFE-IF THEY CAN'T CLIMB OUT THE MINE-EVERYBODY HAS POTENTIAL TO DIAMOND SHINE-JUST DON'T BE THE CHARCOAL THAT GETS BURNED BY MANKIND-TO FUEL A HATERS BARBEQUE-GET YOUR MIND RIGHT THESE BARS WILL DO-GET A BAR OR TWO-MAKE EM SICC TILL THEY BARF FISH FOOD-RIGHT OFF THE BARGE INTO BLUE-BURN MY SPOT IF THEY COULD-I GET HATERS TO HOT THAT'S WHY THEY COULD NEVER BE COOL-EVERYBODY WANNA BE LIKE ME-NO IK IN BETWEEN-KAZELOON DA GOAT THERE'S NO OTHER WAY IT GOTTA BE-SEARCHING 4 ANOTHER GOAT-THE SEARCH GROWS 2 COLD-LIKE THE SEARCH 4 THE ESCAPED INMATES IN THE SIBERIAN SNOW-THEY SAID FUCC PAROLE-AND HAVE A NICE DAY LIKE IN THE DANNEMORA TUNNELS-IT'S THE OPPOSITE OF TALES FROM THE CRYPT ESCAPING INTO YOUR CRIME PARTNERS MUZZLE-NO QUICCSAND FOR PAPPILON MADE IT TO DA ISL.AND NO TROUBLE-THEY WANNA BUST A MOVE AND EXPLODE QUICC ON DA DOUBLE-MY CHAMELION COLORFUL BALLS LIKE BUBBLES-AND GET PAID LIKE THERE'S NO NEED TO HUSTLE-I'M SO HOOD JUST ASK SWEATER MAKERS AT RUSSELL-
THEY WANNA BE LIKE MIKE-THEY WANNA BE MY MIC-SO I CAN SPIT ON EM AND BLESS THEM-THEY WANNA INHERIT DA LESSONZ-IT'S LIKE I OWN THE HORNETS TEAM-THEY ON MY HORN DATS ET-MY SCI FI PIPE ON TEEDALEE-I GOT BLUE STRIPES ASK MICCEY'S-GREEN BOTTLE KINGZ-WE STUFFIN BIG BOOTS LIKE ITALY-IF THE BOOT IS FIT TO ME-THEN I STASH GOODIEZ IN IT HOODY MAVERICC GEE-MY KID GONNA COME OUT WITH DA AMBILICAL CORD WRAPPED AROUND HIS HEAD-LIKE A C-RAG THROWIN UP THA C AS HE TAKES HIS FIRST BREATH-IMA REAL N.I.G.G.A TO THA Z-"NINJAZ IN GORILLA GEAR AS ZULUS" RIDIN WITH ME-PAPER OR PLASTIC TAMPAX OR MAXI-THROW THEM PUSSY NIGGAZ IN DA BAG-IN DA PEN I'M DA GOAT RAM-WE SACRAFICE SORRY RAPPERS ON DA PENTAGRAM-I GOT THESE SCARY CATS SINGING CLUTCHING THEY TEDDY PENTAGRASS-I'M DA GREATEST OF ALL TIME DEM FAKES BEEN IN DA GRASS-BAR FOR BAR POUND 4 POUND-STAR FOR STAR SOUND 4 SOUND-THEM PUNKS USE OTHER PUNKS TO GET THEY FIREWORKS LIT-TO GET THEY ROCCETS OFF THEY PAY THEM PICOLO PETE DICCS-THEY DOPING IN TRACK-THEY CHEATING BUYING STREAMS NEW CRACC-FOR THEY VIDEOS, SONGS, AND TRACKS-WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT?-SAME FIELD OF TRACKS-NO PUN BY THAT-SAME TRACK-SHOULD BE STRIPPED OF MEDALS, AWARDS, AND PLAQUES-I USE THE SOUND LIKE THE BLIND-LIKE THE CHAMELIONS 3RD EYE-IT'S NOT DEAD JUST IMMORTALIZED-MORE ALIVE TO DA NAKED EYE-PUT SOME CLOTHES A PIRATE PATCH ON DEM HATERS EYES-MAKE DEY BOOTY DROP A SIZE-RUB SALT IN DEY EYES-UNTIL THEY CRY LIQUID PEPPER-DEY WANNA BE LIKE ME DA ONE DUECE STEPPER-I'M LOOKIN FOR LOVE IN ALL DA WRONG PLACES-MRS.RIGHT ON DA LEFTSIDE WITH DA BEST BIG FACES-I GOT THE GOOGLE CROME BOUT TO PICC UP-LIKE DEM SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS ON MAGNETIC CLUMP-SOME RAINBOW BUDZ-THRU THESE KUSHY CRYSTALIZED SLUMZ-WHAT IS THIS LORHOLE AND HARD DEE?-WHAT ARE THESE PUNKS FAVORITE TEAM?-THE MINNESOTA TWINS ON BIG DICC MOUNTAIN TOP PEAK?-I'M OLD SCHOOL SHE IS TOO-SHE WORKS IT LIKE A HELLISH PRO-UNTIL IT'S YELLOW-KAZENOVA LOCCING DOWN CELEBRITY FEMALEZ IN HIS TINY HOUSES-FOR YOUR F.Y.I I FEED THEM LIKE MOUSES-AND THEY GAVE ME ALL THEY CHEESE-NOW WE GETTING LOW LIKE DA RATKING-UNDERGROUND BELOW DA STREETS-IT'S DA NEW PIED PIPER OF HAMLIN-LIKE HAMMEL PLUS BROOKLYN-YOU SEE THEY NEW BOOTYS ON FACEBOOK-THAT'S WHY THEY TALK TO THEM FAKE CROOKZ-THAT'S WHY I'M STILL FREE I DON'T TALK TO THEM FAKE HOOKZ-THEY MADE 2 SHOOK-FUCCING WITH THEM WILL GET YOUR BIG FACE TOOK-I KEEP MY CRIP CARD DA CLEANEST C.I.P TO RAY & TOOK-TO GHOST, RASCAL, WICCED, KICCER, HITMAN, NOSEY, AND SPOOK-WE KEEP DEY MEMORIEZ ALIVE LIKE A REAL HOMIE SHOULD-1982 BROOKLYN AVENUE ORIGINAL HOOD-GOT ME KNOCCIN ON BLEAKWOOD-I KEEP IT HOOD-YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH ME HOLLA HIT THAT FACEBOOK INBOX-SIGN SOME PAPERWORK SEE ME IN DA BOX-12 ROUNDS WON'T HURT ME I'M FROM DA MURDA BLOCC-AND WITH DAT SAID ONCE AGAIN I'M WAITING ON YOU-PUSSIES RUNNIN YOUR DICC FLAPPERS DATS ON YOU-DON'T MESS WITH MY PEEPZ COME MESS WITH ME-YOU GOTTA PROBLEM WITH ME? COME SPEAK IT TO ME-JASON KAZELOON YONAI DATS WHERE YOUR DM SUPPOSE TO GO-TALK IS CHEAP BITCH DATS WHY YOU GET YOUR FACE BROKE-HOW YOU GONNA SEE THE GOAT?-WHEN U AIN'T GREAT AT ALL-WE BEEN CALLING YOU OUT FROM BEHIND THE WALLS-IT'S KINDA FUNNY I CAN'T HEAR YOU EVEN IF U DID HOLLA U AIN'T GOT NO BALLS-IF ONLY I COULD FILM MY OWN EPISODE AND ASK INMATES ON LOCK UP RAW-THEY'LL PUT YOU ON BLAST WE KNOW WHO YOU REALLY ARE-WE AIN'T FIRING IT UP EVEN IN DA BEASTS BELLY DA YARD-I GOT A DICC-BIGGER THEN A PIT-CALL ME ASIATIC MR.FALCON WHAT BITCH-WANNA LOCC WIT IT?-I'M LOOKIN FOR A VICC-LIKE MY MIC THAT I SPLIT-YOU'S A BEAGLE LIKE SNOOP I PUT YOUR CAREER TO SLEEP CITCH-I FEEL YA WEREWOLF SYNDROME MUTHAFUCCAZ CUHZ I GOT A BIG FOOT-MY DAUGHTER KICC IT HARDER THEN POLYMELIA THEY WAY I KICC JEWELS-I SLAP A STUPID CITCH UNTIL I GOT MACRODACTYLY-THAT'S HOW DIS MAC ROLL AIN'T NO ACTING GEE-MAKE HER CRY UNTIL SHE SWIMMING WITH DA MACKAREL AT SEA-MACC A CELEBRITY HOE AT EASE-THAT'S WHY DEY WANNA MACC A HOE LIKE ME-DEM HOEZ WANNA BE THEY WANNA BE LIKE MIKE-MY MIC DAT IS-MY BULLHORN SO LONG WHO NEEDS DA EXTRA EQUIP?-I'M 2 GOOD LIKE BBQ HOT SAUCE AND KETCHUP ON EVERYTHANG-DEEP FRIED IS MY STYLE I BRING DA FLAVOR OUT OF EVERYTHANG-I SWEAR I DON DRILLED BILLIONS OF HOES-THE ONLY THING I REGRET IS I DIDN'T TRILL OUT DEY THROAT-2PAC LEFT ME DA KEYS SO U KNOW I'M DA GOAT-IT'S BEEN KNOWN-I JUST GOT AT HIM ON THE OUIJA BOARD TO LOC-DAT I DIPPED IN BLOOD OF GOAT-EYE OF NEWTALL CHAMELION-WE ALREADY MADE A MILLION-THEY SAID THERE'S ONLY ONE CROWN-I TOLD EM GO AHEAD & WEAR IT IMA BLOW IT OFF YO CROWN-IMA PUT YA IN DA GROUND-IN DA MOUND-AND STEP ON YA WITH DIS CY FOREVA YUNG SOUND-YOU PAY FOR MILLIONS OF STREAMS FOR YOUR OWN SOUNDS-SO HOW-ARE YOU CONTENDING FOR ONLY ONE CROWN?-AND POINT OUT NOW-WHERE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY RULEBOOK WHOEVER SELLS THE MOST HAS DA CROWN-IT'S WHOEVER PUTS IT DOWN-THA HARDEST MATERIAL WISE SOUND 4 SOUND-POUND 4 POUND-HAS THE REAL CROWN-YOUR BURGER KING CROWN-MADE OUT OF PAPER YOU BOUGHT WITH PAPER DON'T COUNT-YOU RECYCLING YOUR MONEY WITH STREAMS-DOING THE REVERSE OSMOSIS IS THE RECORD COMPANIES-YOU JUST THEY AQUAFEINA SPOKESPERSON-IT CAN'T GET NO CLEANER DA WAY I SPOKE ON IT 4 CERTAIN-IF IT CAN'T GET NO LEANER FUCC DA WORLD I POKE ON EARTHS SURFACE-THESE NINJAZ CONFUSED-THEY WANNA BE LIKE GOONZ-THAT TURN SAGOON-OR BEEN SINGING THAT GAY TUNE-NO DISS TO GAY DUDES-THESE NIGGAZ KILL YOU JUST TO LOSE-A GAME THEY COULDA JUICED-INSTEAD THEY NEVER MADE IT TO THAT ROOF-THEY WILL NEVER FALL OFF THAT ROOF-TO OBTAIN THE JUICE-PLUS THEY AFRAID OF HEIGHTS THAT'S DA PROOF-HOW THEY GONNA RISE-ABOVE DA STRIFE-IF THEY CAN'T CLIMB OUT THE MINE-EVERYBODY HAS POTENTIAL TO DIAMOND SHINE-JUST DON'T BE THE CHARCOAL THAT GETS BURNED BY MANKIND-TO FUEL A HATERS BARBEQUE-GET YOUR MIND RIGHT THESE BARS WILL DO-GET A BAR OR TWO-MAKE EM SICC TILL THEY BARF FISH FOOD-RIGHT OFF THE BARGE INTO BLUE-BURN MY SPOT IF THEY COULD-I GET HATERS TO HOT THAT'S WHY THEY COULD NEVER BE COOL-EVERYBODY WANNA BE LIKE ME-NO IK IN BETWEEN-KAZELOON DA GOAT THERE'S NO OTHER WAY IT GOTTA BE-SEARCHING 4 ANOTHER GOAT-THE SEARCH GROWS 2 COLD-LIKE THE SEARCH 4 THE ESCAPED INMATES IN THE SIBERIAN SNOW-THEY SAID FUCC PAROLE-AND HAVE A NICE DAY LIKE IN THE DANNEMORA TUNNELS-IT'S THE OPPOSITE OF TALES FROM THE CRYPT ESCAPING INTO YOUR CRIME PARTNERS MUZZLE-NO QUICCSAND FOR PAPPILON MADE IT TO DA ISL.AND NO TROUBLE-THEY WANNA BUST A MOVE AND EXPLODE QUICC ON DA DOUBLE-MY CHAMELION COLORFUL BALLS LIKE BUBBLES-AND GET PAID LIKE THERE'S NO NEED TO HUSTLE-I'M SO HOOD JUST ASK SWEATER MAKERS AT RUSSELL-
Lyrics submitted by KRC-Roseland Ent-The Pac-Planet9
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Fast Car
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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