"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.
She left without leavin' a number
Said she needed to clear her mind
He figured she'd gone back to Austin
'Cause she talked about it all the time
It was almost a year before she called him up
Three rings and an answering machine is what she got
If your callin' 'bout the car, I sold it
If this is Tuesday night, I'm bowlin'
If you've got somethin' to sell your wastin' your time, I'm not buyin'
If it's anybody else wait for the tone you know what to do
And P.S., if this is Austin, I still love you
The telephone fell to the counter
She heard but she couldn't believe
What kind of man would hang on that long
What kind of love that must be
She waited three days and then she tried again
She didn't know what she'd say
But she heard three rings and then
If it's Friday night, I'm at the ball game
And first thing Saturday, if it don't rain
I'm headed out to the lake and I'll be gone all weekend long
But I'll call you back when I get home on Sunday afternoon
And P.S., if this is Austin, I still love you
Well, this time she left her number
But not another word
Then she waited by the phone on Sunday evening
And this is what he heard
If your callin' 'bout my heart, it's still yours
I should've listened to it a little more
Then it wouldn't have taken me so long
To know where I belong
And by the way, boy, this is no machine your talkin' to
Can't you tell, this is Austin, and I still love you
I still love you
Said she needed to clear her mind
He figured she'd gone back to Austin
'Cause she talked about it all the time
It was almost a year before she called him up
Three rings and an answering machine is what she got
If your callin' 'bout the car, I sold it
If this is Tuesday night, I'm bowlin'
If you've got somethin' to sell your wastin' your time, I'm not buyin'
If it's anybody else wait for the tone you know what to do
And P.S., if this is Austin, I still love you
The telephone fell to the counter
She heard but she couldn't believe
What kind of man would hang on that long
What kind of love that must be
She waited three days and then she tried again
She didn't know what she'd say
But she heard three rings and then
If it's Friday night, I'm at the ball game
And first thing Saturday, if it don't rain
I'm headed out to the lake and I'll be gone all weekend long
But I'll call you back when I get home on Sunday afternoon
And P.S., if this is Austin, I still love you
Well, this time she left her number
But not another word
Then she waited by the phone on Sunday evening
And this is what he heard
If your callin' 'bout my heart, it's still yours
I should've listened to it a little more
Then it wouldn't have taken me so long
To know where I belong
And by the way, boy, this is no machine your talkin' to
Can't you tell, this is Austin, and I still love you
I still love you
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Great version of a great song,
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i think she went to Austin..he just called her Austin..like i know somebody from Ohio and i call him Ohio..just my opinion
Dumb as a bag of hammers. Get over it and move on...
Whats so dumb about a bag of hammers
this song means a lot to me and my fiancee. he left me and we didnt talk for like 2 or 3 months and i called his cell and his voice mail was him saying he was sorry and he loved me so when he called back i let my machine pick up and he left a message with this song on it and i cried. we're back together and getting married soon...i cant wait!!! i love you john!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with dork alert, she went to Austin and he knew that, so he just said "If this is Austin" because she'd know what he meant if she called and also probably because no one else would know he was talking about her if they got his answering machine. Kind of like a privacy thing.
Its not private when everyone knows
It's a lovely song and a very original idea. The only niggle I have with it is the last verse. How does she know it's him calling? It would have been a nasty twist if there'd been another verse on the end "I'm flattered Mam but please you know I'm married with kids, Do you always come on to the gas men like this?" hehe
But that's just me being cheeky. It's a great song by Blake :)
lol good one<br />
Yeah his girlfriend is from Austin and he just calls her Austin to avoid saying her real name.
no comments?? i LOVE this song, its so goood. i dont usually like lovey songs but this one is so good. anyone heard his other songs? are they any good?
They really are! Listen to "Ten Times Crazier", "Honey Bee", "I found someone" & "The Baby".
That is the sweetest thing I have ever heard, you are sooo lucky :)
this song is soo sweet you guys!! it's about how both people still love each other but neither one knows the other feels the same way! aw i would give for a guy like that hehe!
This is such an awesome song... just like belle said its about 2 people who find out they are still in love after so much time apart. This song makes me teary when I hear it.