"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.
Do you believe in the signs of the zodiac?
Haven't you found that the systems for planning always fail?
Can you avoid what gave daddy his heart attack?
Have you tried everything, anything, all to no avail?
I know what you need
This will really work
In ancient times, if you were sick
They make you bleed
Oh, honey I know it hurts
Look all around you and notice you're not alone
We want to give you the courage to go a different way
Think of the love and attention we all have shown
What did we do when we heard? Well, we all came right away
I know what you need
This will really work
In ancient times, if you were sick
They make you bleed
Oh honey, I know it hurts
Do you believe in the signs of the zodiac?
I know what you need
This will really work
In ancient times, if you were sick
They make you bleed
Oh honey, I know it hurts
Do you believe in the signs of the zodiac?
Haven't you found that the systems for planning always fail?
Can you avoid what gave daddy his heart attack?
Have you tried everything, anything, all to no avail?
I know what you need
This will really work
In ancient times, if you were sick
They make you bleed
Oh, honey I know it hurts
Look all around you and notice you're not alone
We want to give you the courage to go a different way
Think of the love and attention we all have shown
What did we do when we heard? Well, we all came right away
I know what you need
This will really work
In ancient times, if you were sick
They make you bleed
Oh honey, I know it hurts
Do you believe in the signs of the zodiac?
I know what you need
This will really work
In ancient times, if you were sick
They make you bleed
Oh honey, I know it hurts
Do you believe in the signs of the zodiac?
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Fast Car
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Great version of a great song,
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when I first heard this song, I thought "Zodiac Killer" ^^; I really like what slimgoodbody and Scissors333 said though.