"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.
Come over to the window, my little darling
I'd like to try to read your palm
I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy
Before I let you take me home
Now so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Well, you know that I love to live with you
But you make me forget so very much
I forget to pray for the angels
And then the angels forget to pray for us
Now so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
We met when we were almost young
Deep in the green lilac park
You held on to me like I was a crucifix
As we went kneeling through the dark
Oh, so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Your letters, they all say that you're beside me now
Then why do I feel alone?
I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
Is fastening my ankle to a stone
Now so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
For now I need your hidden love
I'm cold as a new razorblade
You left when I told you I was curious
I never said that I was brave
Oh, so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Oh, you are really such a pretty one
I see you've gone and changed your name again
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside
To wash my eyelids in the rain
Oh, so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
I'd like to try to read your palm
I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy
Before I let you take me home
Now so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Well, you know that I love to live with you
But you make me forget so very much
I forget to pray for the angels
And then the angels forget to pray for us
Now so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
We met when we were almost young
Deep in the green lilac park
You held on to me like I was a crucifix
As we went kneeling through the dark
Oh, so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Your letters, they all say that you're beside me now
Then why do I feel alone?
I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
Is fastening my ankle to a stone
Now so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
For now I need your hidden love
I'm cold as a new razorblade
You left when I told you I was curious
I never said that I was brave
Oh, so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Oh, you are really such a pretty one
I see you've gone and changed your name again
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside
To wash my eyelids in the rain
Oh, so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Lyrics submitted by Hosimosi, edited by JohnnyLurg, traumermusing
So Long, Marianne Lyrics as written by Leonard Cohen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Great version of a great song,
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This is the song I can relate to more than any other song. I met a lady named Marianne in my late 20's, she in her early 30's ("we met when we were almost young"). She introduced me to Cohen's music and taught me what love is. Her inspiration got me started in writing poetry. I was married at the time and she couldn't wait for me, so she moved on and later married ("i see you've gone and changed your name again"). Although we separated 12 years ago, we still have contact with each other. We are soul mates and the day will come when we will ("cry and laugh and laugh and cry about it all again") and I can stop ("to wash my eyelids in the rain").
This is the saddest and most beautiful comment I have seen on here.
@_gandalf would you still consider this the case? Your comment was incredibly beautiful even in 2021