"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.
American woman, I'm gonna mess your mind
American woman, you gonna mess your mind
American woman, I'm gonna mess your mind
American woman, I'm gonna mess your mind
Say A, say M, say E
Say R, say I, C
Say A, N
American woman, I'm gonna mess your mind
American woman, you gonna mess your mind
American woman, I'm gonna mess your mind
American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come a hangin' around my door
I don't want to see your face no more
I got more important things to do
Than spend my time growin' old with you
Now woman, I said stay away
American woman, listen what I say
American woman, get away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come a knockin' around my door
Don't want to see your shadow no more
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, I said get away
American woman, listen what I say-ay-ay-ay
American woman, said get away
American woman, listen what I say
Don't come a hangin' around my door
Don't want to see your face no more
I don't need your war machines
I don't need your ghetto scenes
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, get away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Go, gotta get away, gotta get away now go, go, go
I'm gonna leave you woman
Gonna leave you woman
Bye-bye bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye
You're no good for me
I'm no good for you
Gonna look you right in the eye
Tell you what I'm gonna do
You know I'm gonna leave
You know I'm gonna go
You know I'm gonna leave
You know I'm gonna go-o, woman
I'm gonna leave you woman
Goodbye American woman
American woman, you gonna mess your mind
American woman, I'm gonna mess your mind
American woman, I'm gonna mess your mind
Say A, say M, say E
Say R, say I, C
Say A, N
American woman, I'm gonna mess your mind
American woman, you gonna mess your mind
American woman, I'm gonna mess your mind
American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come a hangin' around my door
I don't want to see your face no more
I got more important things to do
Than spend my time growin' old with you
Now woman, I said stay away
American woman, listen what I say
American woman, get away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come a knockin' around my door
Don't want to see your shadow no more
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, I said get away
American woman, listen what I say-ay-ay-ay
American woman, said get away
American woman, listen what I say
Don't come a hangin' around my door
Don't want to see your face no more
I don't need your war machines
I don't need your ghetto scenes
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, get away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Go, gotta get away, gotta get away now go, go, go
I'm gonna leave you woman
Gonna leave you woman
Bye-bye bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye
You're no good for me
I'm no good for you
Gonna look you right in the eye
Tell you what I'm gonna do
You know I'm gonna leave
You know I'm gonna go
You know I'm gonna leave
You know I'm gonna go-o, woman
I'm gonna leave you woman
Goodbye American woman
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Actually it's an anti America song. "Flashing lights can't hypnotize, sparkle someone elses eyes" talking about all the bars and casinos in America that people get 'addicted' too.
"I don't need your war machines" Duh, the US has one of the largest militaries in the world, and is constantly using it. While Canada is totally opposite.
"I don't need your ghetto scenes" Obviously refering to all the ghettos and slums in the states.
"Don't come hangin around my door, I don't wanna see your face no more" I guess talking about how everyone thinks America is the best place to live, and talks about going there.
By the way, I'm American and I love it here ;)
@Muzzy Great!
better than lenny kravitz's cover in my opinion.
absolutely
nemt= a brainwashed american idiot HeavyMetalRocker= another brainwashed american idiot
"someone kills over 2000 of your people? the solution to this, in the american way, is to kill over 40000 of the people who are not even involved in your 'tragedy'" thanks Brenosantos exactly what i wanted to say
as to this song, i think most of the comments covered up the meaning- the whole anti-america, not wanting a american 'colonization' for canada etc... great song
i read an interview about this song where one of the band members claimed it wasn't about disliking american women, it was more "we prefer canadian women". it was a pretty funny interview and a great song.
I love this version much better! This is such a great song I have to listen to it as much as possible.
100000x better then his cover
Also I beleive the guitarist is Randy Bachman, who later formed Bachman-Turner Overdrive("You Ain't Seen Nothin Yet", "Takin' Care Of business"), another popular Canadian band back in the 70s.
I like this song very much....it's classic...and should have never been redone, it's great just the way it is....and played LOUD!!
Yeh, Muzzy is right about the song. Everyone here in Canada knows what it means, it's one of the biggest rock songs ever in Canada. Its anti-americanism probably has a large factor as to its lack of success in America; even though it was a big hit there too. Bachman and Cummings probably just didn't want Canada to head down the same road as America, which is somewhat did.
Anyway, gotta love Canada... and yeah, America's now toooo bad either.
@SimpleKindOfBoy There was no lack of success in the US. It was a #1 hit, it was covered by American artists and charted again in the US, it is well liked and well remembered in the US. The closest thing to a backlash that you could mention is that the band was asked by First Lady Pat Nixon not to play the song when they performed at the White House. However, they were still invited to play at the White House despite not being American. It was a sign of how well liked they were in the US.
Statue of Liberty = American woman
i think there is some historical context in the satire as i believe this was during Vietnam as US was trying to enlist Canada's Help, please correct me if i'm wrong, as i might be