"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.
Silver sands of Saint Augustine
Fire in the ground
Between my bitter teeth
We're dancing on the poisoned in their graves
At the end of the night
We'd all seen better days
I know you tried
I know you're cursed
I know your best was still your worst
When Hollywood was calling out your name
Saint Augustine
If I stayed behind
Would you let your hair grow?
I will forget
The favors that you owe
I'm dreaming of car wrecks and thunderstorms so bright
Let's bury ourselves
And go haunt someone tonight
I know you tried
I know you're cursed
I know your best was still your worst
When Hollywood was calling out your name
Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine
Fire in the ground
Between my bitter teeth
We're dancing on the poisoned in their graves
At the end of the night
We'd all seen better days
I know you tried
I know you're cursed
I know your best was still your worst
When Hollywood was calling out your name
Saint Augustine
If I stayed behind
Would you let your hair grow?
I will forget
The favors that you owe
I'm dreaming of car wrecks and thunderstorms so bright
Let's bury ourselves
And go haunt someone tonight
I know you tried
I know you're cursed
I know your best was still your worst
When Hollywood was calling out your name
Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine
Lyrics submitted by drawrof
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Fast Car
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I really think this song is about forgiveness. More so about saying "Even though you didn't reach the top, it's okay". From the lyrics, it's almost as if he (the singer), or someone he knew left it all behind (St. Augustine) in order to pursue something better (the grass is always greener on the other side) - but ultimately failed in the end.
"i know you tried i know you're cursed i know your best was still your worst when hollywood was calling out your name"
It's a really beautiful song, and whenever I hear I conjure in my head the image of the Lady in Black who always visited Rudolph Valentino's grave. Or - images of the 1920's in general. As personal as this song is, it's almost like a secret that many of us can put our own meanings to.
To me - it's about forgiveness, even if you tried your hardest, and thought leaving everything for something better - but realizing that it's not. It's about redemption.