"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.
Sing, bird of prey
Beauty begins at the foot of you
Do you believe the manner?
Gold stainless nail
Torn through the distance of man
As they regard the summit
Even Siberia goes through the motions
Hold out and hold up
Hold down the window
(Outbound, river)
Hold out the mornin' that comes into view
(Blue tail, tail fly)
River runnin' right on over my head
How does she sing?
Who holds the ring?
And ring and you will find me coming
Cold reigning king
Hold all the secrets from you
As they produce the movement
Even Siberia goes through the motions
Hold out and hold up
Hold down the window
(Outbound, river)
Hold out the mornin' that comes into view
(Blue tail, tail fly)
River runnin' right on over the outboard
River, blue tail, tail fly, Luther, in time
Hold down the window
Hold out the morning that comes into view
Warm side, the tower
Green leaves reveal the heart spoken khatru
Gold stainless nail
Torn through the distance of man
As they regard the summit
Cold reigning king
Shelter the women that sing
As they produce the movement
River running right on over then over my head
(Outboard, river)
Blue tail, tail fly, Luther, in time
Sun tower, asking, cover, lover
June cast, moon fast as one changes
Heart gold leaver, soul mark mover
Christian changer, called out savior
Moon gate climber, turn round glider
Beauty begins at the foot of you
Do you believe the manner?
Gold stainless nail
Torn through the distance of man
As they regard the summit
Even Siberia goes through the motions
Hold out and hold up
Hold down the window
(Outbound, river)
Hold out the mornin' that comes into view
(Blue tail, tail fly)
River runnin' right on over my head
How does she sing?
Who holds the ring?
And ring and you will find me coming
Cold reigning king
Hold all the secrets from you
As they produce the movement
Even Siberia goes through the motions
Hold out and hold up
Hold down the window
(Outbound, river)
Hold out the mornin' that comes into view
(Blue tail, tail fly)
River runnin' right on over the outboard
River, blue tail, tail fly, Luther, in time
Hold down the window
Hold out the morning that comes into view
Warm side, the tower
Green leaves reveal the heart spoken khatru
Gold stainless nail
Torn through the distance of man
As they regard the summit
Cold reigning king
Shelter the women that sing
As they produce the movement
River running right on over then over my head
(Outboard, river)
Blue tail, tail fly, Luther, in time
Sun tower, asking, cover, lover
June cast, moon fast as one changes
Heart gold leaver, soul mark mover
Christian changer, called out savior
Moon gate climber, turn round glider
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Lots of interesting comments, although I have no more of a clue what these lyrics mean NOW than I did before I read them. LOL
I would like to take exception to what ColdCat said: "progressive rock tunes largely have no meanings. That is sort of one of the defining rules of progressive rock."
That's a crock, dude! Just because YOU don't understand the meaning, does NOT mean that they have no meaning! (Know what I mean?)
I'm working on my first prog CD right now. And I'm here to tell you that MY friggin lyrics mean something! So do the lyrics of the music I listen to and consider as influential (Band like Rush, Yes, Pink Floyd, ELP, and Porcupine Tree.) The lyrics may be obscure and difficult to unravel sometimes (Hence, the reason for websites such as this one.) But they DO have meaning.
@Phx4stringer Well said! Prog rock is often called cerebral rock because the lyrics are often symbolic, and their meanings are purposefully written to provoke thought, but the interesting thing is that the music is as well. Jon Anderson's lyrics in particular are, by his own admission, often written simply for their poetic value and not for any particular statement. Steve Howe's guitar is thematic. Pink Floyd, RUSH, Jethro Tull and others, are purposefully and intensely meaningful.