"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.
God you say is always the answer
But what is the answer for our cruelty
We punish a life 'til it's life ever after
Ever after the place that we all end up being
O' such is a morn' as this to awaken
Forgotten the hour that was yesterday
With a standing blow to the head of frustration
Divided we fall have you nothing to say?
So let us rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of futility
Many's the word that's been broken true anger
Lips that are sealed as the hour slips away
Belief is a joke to this lost generation
Building the walls as the mind segregates
But when all is said
The voice that is silent can't be heard
So let us rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of futility
For we, we shall overcome, someday
So we bring the head of the ol' palace tribe
For there is the rapture that bleeds out a life
Hand over fist from their pulpit they spew
Liars they'll crumble not knowing the truth
But when all is said
The voice that is silent can't be heard
So let us rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Let us rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of futility
Rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Let us rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of all human greed
For we, we shall overcome
Rise up
Rise up
Rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of futility
But what is the answer for our cruelty
We punish a life 'til it's life ever after
Ever after the place that we all end up being
O' such is a morn' as this to awaken
Forgotten the hour that was yesterday
With a standing blow to the head of frustration
Divided we fall have you nothing to say?
So let us rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of futility
Many's the word that's been broken true anger
Lips that are sealed as the hour slips away
Belief is a joke to this lost generation
Building the walls as the mind segregates
But when all is said
The voice that is silent can't be heard
So let us rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of futility
For we, we shall overcome, someday
So we bring the head of the ol' palace tribe
For there is the rapture that bleeds out a life
Hand over fist from their pulpit they spew
Liars they'll crumble not knowing the truth
But when all is said
The voice that is silent can't be heard
So let us rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Let us rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of futility
Rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Let us rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of all human greed
For we, we shall overcome
Rise up
Rise up
Rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of futility
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Rise Up Lyrics as written by Michael Anthony Bennett Ini Kamoze
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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