"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.
Lay you, lay you down
Lay you, they lay you down
Lay you, lay you down---
No fog, clear in the moonlight
The stars shine so bright
Now's the time
I close my eyes
Soft wind touching my face
Cool sand upon the place
Where I once kissed you
And held you close
Now I will reach for the stars
Oh, oh because my love that's where you are
Though the storms of black night rage on
I still see your face
I still feel your lips on mine
Though my heart feels all alone without you
I still hear you sing to me
I still hear your voice on the sea
Waves crash, break the silence
Gulls cry their song of lament
I walk on
Through the stormy night
Yeah cries, a flash of anger
Dark clouds shroud the stranger
All alone without you
Now I will reach for the stars
Oh, oh because my love that's where you are
Though the storms of black night rage on
I still see your face
I still feel your lips on mine
Though my heart feels all alone without you
I still hear you sing to me
I still hear your voice on the sea
Lay you, lay you down
Lay you, they lay you down
Lay you, lay you down---
No fog, clear in the moonlight
The stars shine so bright
Now's the time
I close my eyes
Soft wind touching my face
Cool sand upon the place
Where I once kissed you
And held you close
Though the storms of black night rage on
I still see your face
I still feel your lips on mine
Though my heart feels all alone without you
I still hear you sing to me
I still hear your voice on the sea
Lay you, they lay you down
Lay you, lay you down---
No fog, clear in the moonlight
The stars shine so bright
Now's the time
I close my eyes
Soft wind touching my face
Cool sand upon the place
Where I once kissed you
And held you close
Now I will reach for the stars
Oh, oh because my love that's where you are
Though the storms of black night rage on
I still see your face
I still feel your lips on mine
Though my heart feels all alone without you
I still hear you sing to me
I still hear your voice on the sea
Waves crash, break the silence
Gulls cry their song of lament
I walk on
Through the stormy night
Yeah cries, a flash of anger
Dark clouds shroud the stranger
All alone without you
Now I will reach for the stars
Oh, oh because my love that's where you are
Though the storms of black night rage on
I still see your face
I still feel your lips on mine
Though my heart feels all alone without you
I still hear you sing to me
I still hear your voice on the sea
Lay you, lay you down
Lay you, they lay you down
Lay you, lay you down---
No fog, clear in the moonlight
The stars shine so bright
Now's the time
I close my eyes
Soft wind touching my face
Cool sand upon the place
Where I once kissed you
And held you close
Though the storms of black night rage on
I still see your face
I still feel your lips on mine
Though my heart feels all alone without you
I still hear you sing to me
I still hear your voice on the sea
Lyrics submitted by CatchingRed
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Ed Sheeran
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The live version (from the album Live Stages) of this song is my favorite song ever. I listen to it about ten times a week, at least. The words are awesome and the energy of the live show adds so much to the song.
Yea it really is a beautiful song. Both versions are good but the one from Live Stages really grabs you.
Can't say they're lyrics I can relate to. My take on it is the guy is walking on the beach remembering a deceased spouse or bf/gf. You could really stretch it as someone long lost and far away as opposed to deceased.
I plan on being a marine biologist, and if I happen to die at sea, I want my love, Dylan, to listen to this to know that I'll always be there. I love him. This song is about love.
The second verse goes:
The air cries flash of anger Dark nights enshroud the stranger All alone without you
I have always liked this song..live stages is a better version in my opinion. I actually edited it down to just pick up at Lay you down, lay you down...phenomenal