"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.
Perfumed and smoky
She swears that she knows me
She's falling down drunk again
I say she's mistaken
She's visibly shaken
Emotions all drowned in gin
She said I used to be beautiful
But now it's all gone
I let my dreams slip away from me
That's where it went wrong
Go be young, go be free
Follow your heart where it leads you
Don't end up like me
The Indian in the guardhouse used to spin me yarns
Stories of canyons and Boston in winter
And losing his family's farms
He said I've outlived my three sons, they died in three wars
I laughed and I cried while they lived and they died
And I know that they deserve more
Go be young, go be free
Follow your heart where it leads you
Don't end up like me
Perfumed and smoky
I'm falling down drunk again
I say she's mistaken
She's visibly shaken
Emotions all drowned in gin
I say I used to be powerful
But now it's all gone
I let my dreams take control of me
That's where it went wrong
Go be young, go be free
Follow your heart where it leads you
Don't end up like me
She swears that she knows me
She's falling down drunk again
I say she's mistaken
She's visibly shaken
Emotions all drowned in gin
She said I used to be beautiful
But now it's all gone
I let my dreams slip away from me
That's where it went wrong
Go be young, go be free
Follow your heart where it leads you
Don't end up like me
The Indian in the guardhouse used to spin me yarns
Stories of canyons and Boston in winter
And losing his family's farms
He said I've outlived my three sons, they died in three wars
I laughed and I cried while they lived and they died
And I know that they deserve more
Go be young, go be free
Follow your heart where it leads you
Don't end up like me
Perfumed and smoky
I'm falling down drunk again
I say she's mistaken
She's visibly shaken
Emotions all drowned in gin
I say I used to be powerful
But now it's all gone
I let my dreams take control of me
That's where it went wrong
Go be young, go be free
Follow your heart where it leads you
Don't end up like me
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i just want you all to know this is an amazing song.... if you're into the alternative stuff, give it a chance. It won't disappoint you.
Another great song by Edwin.
To me this song basically means enjoy your youth and don't grow up quicker than you have to, You're only young once--go out and have some fun in your life.
agree with wallflower, but again, this song is written around a personal experience of edwin's. he was on tour and he struck up conversation with a parking lot attendant. The verses are the stories that this parking lot attendant shared with edwin during their conversation.