"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]
Went to her art show, hello, hello, yeah, sis, I know your name
Little starstruck because I knew about her Insta-fame
That's just whatever, I'd still feel the same
Three months later, vibes are something out of Liquid Sky
It's become apparent I must share her with this other guy
That's just whatever, guess I'll have to try
That's just whatever, guess I'll have to try
[Chorus]
I can't keep up with the girl
She's not mine, though
She's not his either
Messy in love with the girl
I'm guessing the tea
Is that she needs variety, oh, oh
I can't keep up with the girl
Are we just the quarry
In her sex safari?
I can't take another lonely night
You're gonna have to choose
[Verse 2]
IDK, I cannot say, can I be chill with this?
Something about open couples doesn't feel real serious
I guess all the same I'm poly-curious
Playing musical lovers is starting to feel kind of kitsch
If you want monogamy are you just like some basic bitch?
I guess it's just whatever current sitch
I guess it's just whatever current sitch, oh
[Chorus]
I can't keep up with the girl
She's not mine, though
She's not his either
Messy in love with the girl
Just want to hold her, oh no
I can't keep up with the girl
I'm guessing the T
Is that she needs variety, oh, oh
Messy in love with the girl
Are we just the quarry
In her sex safari?
I can't take another lonely night
You're gonna have to choose one day
Not to put you on blast, babe
But you're gonna have to choose one day
You're gonna have to choose one day
Went to her art show, hello, hello, yeah, sis, I know your name
Little starstruck because I knew about her Insta-fame
That's just whatever, I'd still feel the same
Three months later, vibes are something out of Liquid Sky
It's become apparent I must share her with this other guy
That's just whatever, guess I'll have to try
That's just whatever, guess I'll have to try
[Chorus]
I can't keep up with the girl
She's not mine, though
She's not his either
Messy in love with the girl
I'm guessing the tea
Is that she needs variety, oh, oh
I can't keep up with the girl
Are we just the quarry
In her sex safari?
I can't take another lonely night
You're gonna have to choose
[Verse 2]
IDK, I cannot say, can I be chill with this?
Something about open couples doesn't feel real serious
I guess all the same I'm poly-curious
Playing musical lovers is starting to feel kind of kitsch
If you want monogamy are you just like some basic bitch?
I guess it's just whatever current sitch
I guess it's just whatever current sitch, oh
[Chorus]
I can't keep up with the girl
She's not mine, though
She's not his either
Messy in love with the girl
Just want to hold her, oh no
I can't keep up with the girl
I'm guessing the T
Is that she needs variety, oh, oh
Messy in love with the girl
Are we just the quarry
In her sex safari?
I can't take another lonely night
You're gonna have to choose one day
Not to put you on blast, babe
But you're gonna have to choose one day
You're gonna have to choose one day
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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