"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.
[Verse 1]
Someone asked me where you were today
I said it wasn't really up to me to say
I know your head is sinking low
And your heart beats like a stone
But it will turn out for the better in the end
[Chorus 1]
And now remember you when you were 17
Still had your hair and life was looking pretty sweet
But yesterday in hindsight are meant to be
For it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
Yeah it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
[Verse 2]
I read your face inside an open book
It wasn't long before I took a second look
But when the emptiness grows small
And the words are all but gone
There'll be a better cage to help you on the mend
[Chorus 2]
Turn back the time before the seconds disappear
The same old clock will steal the minutes it now fears
No telling when or how the hour still agree
For it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
Yeah it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
[Bridge]
On my own and green as hell
The first night that I saw you
You told me then this is where and how
We have so much more to give
And we sing...
Lai, ladi ladi lai, dai dai dai, lai lai lai lai dai dai
Lai, ladi ladi lai, dai dai dai
[Chorus 1]
And now remember you when you were 17
Still had your hair and life was looking pretty sweet
But yesterdays in hindsight are meant to be
For it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
Yeah it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
Someone asked me where you were today
I said it wasn't really up to me to say
I know your head is sinking low
And your heart beats like a stone
But it will turn out for the better in the end
[Chorus 1]
And now remember you when you were 17
Still had your hair and life was looking pretty sweet
But yesterday in hindsight are meant to be
For it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
Yeah it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
[Verse 2]
I read your face inside an open book
It wasn't long before I took a second look
But when the emptiness grows small
And the words are all but gone
There'll be a better cage to help you on the mend
[Chorus 2]
Turn back the time before the seconds disappear
The same old clock will steal the minutes it now fears
No telling when or how the hour still agree
For it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
Yeah it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
[Bridge]
On my own and green as hell
The first night that I saw you
You told me then this is where and how
We have so much more to give
And we sing...
Lai, ladi ladi lai, dai dai dai, lai lai lai lai dai dai
Lai, ladi ladi lai, dai dai dai
[Chorus 1]
And now remember you when you were 17
Still had your hair and life was looking pretty sweet
But yesterdays in hindsight are meant to be
For it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
Yeah it's tomorrow and the days we've yet to meet
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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