"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.
the night was dark
the seas were rough
the port lay straight ahead
the booze ran out
the men grew tired
and this is what they said:
"captain if you cannot find a place to set her down
then you'll be sleeping right along with this vessel in the ground"
well the jolly roger pulled through
and made it to the land
we disembarked
went into town with vengence in our hand
the children cried
the woman sight
the men just turn their heads
so with a smile we chated loud and this is what we said
"ooohhoooh
raise'em in the air
we'll knock you up
and slap you down
and never seem to care
ooohooohh
another one for me
cause we're the filthy vermin
that will set you people free"
with nothing left for us to drink
the night was winding down
but still the girls kept swaggering
and still hanging around
oh! mister can you tell me where i can find a man
the only thing that you will find is the back side of my hand!
"ooohhoooh
raise'em in the air
we'll knock you up
and slap you down
and never seem to care
ooohooohh
another one for me
we're the filthy vermin
that will set you people free
we're the filthy vermin
that will set you people free
ooohhoooh
raise'em in the air
we'll knock you up
and slap you down
and never seem to care
ooohooohh
another one for me
we're the filthy vermin
that will set you people free
we're the filthy vermin
that will set you people free "
the seas were rough
the port lay straight ahead
the booze ran out
the men grew tired
and this is what they said:
"captain if you cannot find a place to set her down
then you'll be sleeping right along with this vessel in the ground"
well the jolly roger pulled through
and made it to the land
we disembarked
went into town with vengence in our hand
the children cried
the woman sight
the men just turn their heads
so with a smile we chated loud and this is what we said
"ooohhoooh
raise'em in the air
we'll knock you up
and slap you down
and never seem to care
ooohooohh
another one for me
cause we're the filthy vermin
that will set you people free"
with nothing left for us to drink
the night was winding down
but still the girls kept swaggering
and still hanging around
oh! mister can you tell me where i can find a man
the only thing that you will find is the back side of my hand!
"ooohhoooh
raise'em in the air
we'll knock you up
and slap you down
and never seem to care
ooohooohh
another one for me
we're the filthy vermin
that will set you people free
we're the filthy vermin
that will set you people free
ooohhoooh
raise'em in the air
we'll knock you up
and slap you down
and never seem to care
ooohooohh
another one for me
we're the filthy vermin
that will set you people free
we're the filthy vermin
that will set you people free "
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
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Fast Car
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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yarr god bless pirates and their songs! well done!