"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.
I'm a dog, a dirty flying dog.
I drink Campari with marinated wild hog.
I've no sense, I like electric fence.
I put barbed wire in my pants and do a Celtic dance.
But when I can, I'm a giving man.
I'll flip you out the fire and back up into the frying pan.
And if you're down looking like you're gonna drown.
Of all your friends I'm the one who's most apt to stick around.
I'm a drowning man.
Who will save this drowning man.
Who will save this drowning man.
Who will save this dirty drowning man.
You're so fine, so bright and shiny fine.
And I'm so proud to say that you in fact are a friend of mine.
And doubly pleased with crooked wobbly knees.
I dive on in and backstroke right across these seas of cheese.
But on the times when I'm not such a giving man.
Please flip me out of the fire and backup into the frying pan.
And if you're down looking like you're gonna drown.
Of all your friends I'm the one who's most apt to stick around.
I'm a drowning man.
Who will save this drowning man.
Who will save this drowning man.
Who will save this dirty drowning man.
I drink Campari with marinated wild hog.
I've no sense, I like electric fence.
I put barbed wire in my pants and do a Celtic dance.
But when I can, I'm a giving man.
I'll flip you out the fire and back up into the frying pan.
And if you're down looking like you're gonna drown.
Of all your friends I'm the one who's most apt to stick around.
I'm a drowning man.
Who will save this drowning man.
Who will save this drowning man.
Who will save this dirty drowning man.
You're so fine, so bright and shiny fine.
And I'm so proud to say that you in fact are a friend of mine.
And doubly pleased with crooked wobbly knees.
I dive on in and backstroke right across these seas of cheese.
But on the times when I'm not such a giving man.
Please flip me out of the fire and backup into the frying pan.
And if you're down looking like you're gonna drown.
Of all your friends I'm the one who's most apt to stick around.
I'm a drowning man.
Who will save this drowning man.
Who will save this drowning man.
Who will save this dirty drowning man.
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
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Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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Les truely is a genius of lyric making i mean wow, he should be a lot more famous than he is. And primus too.