"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.
What would you do for a king
If He won all the battles He went out to fight
And returned as a hero on a starlit night to a cheering crowd?
Would it make you proud?
What would you do for a king
If He kept every promise that He'd ever made
Would you get out the tickertape and lead a parade, a society ball?
Would you care at all?
Kings always seemed to me as such grand, imposing men
So full of stature, full of power
So much authority in every word they say
I never thought I was quite the type
But Iíd still love to meet one someday
What would you do for a king
If He came to your door, would you ask Him in
Would you tell Him how much you admired Him
Do you think you'd dare
Would you be too scared?
Most kings don't seem to know much about the common man
So far removed and set apart
I cheer with thousands, we blend into a roar
Another face in an endless crowd
Is that all I really am, just one more?
So what would you do for a king
If He saw you fishing out by the sea
And He walked up to you and said "Follow me - it's time you know"
Do you think you'd go?
And what would you do for a king
If He took off his crown and agreed to die
And as you tried to understand it, He looked you in the eye and said,
"This is for you"
Well, what would you do?
If He won all the battles He went out to fight
And returned as a hero on a starlit night to a cheering crowd?
Would it make you proud?
What would you do for a king
If He kept every promise that He'd ever made
Would you get out the tickertape and lead a parade, a society ball?
Would you care at all?
Kings always seemed to me as such grand, imposing men
So full of stature, full of power
So much authority in every word they say
I never thought I was quite the type
But Iíd still love to meet one someday
What would you do for a king
If He came to your door, would you ask Him in
Would you tell Him how much you admired Him
Do you think you'd dare
Would you be too scared?
Most kings don't seem to know much about the common man
So far removed and set apart
I cheer with thousands, we blend into a roar
Another face in an endless crowd
Is that all I really am, just one more?
So what would you do for a king
If He saw you fishing out by the sea
And He walked up to you and said "Follow me - it's time you know"
Do you think you'd go?
And what would you do for a king
If He took off his crown and agreed to die
And as you tried to understand it, He looked you in the eye and said,
"This is for you"
Well, what would you do?
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
What Would You Do for a King? Lyrics as written by Bill Cantos
Lyrics © GIC PRODUCTIONS
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