Drive Fast
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


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I got two pins in my ankle and a busted collarbone
A steel rod in my leg, but it walks me home
At nine, I climbed high into the boughs of our neighborhood's tallest tree
I don't remember the fear, just the breeze

Drive fast, fall hard, I'll keep you in my heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars
Just drive fast, fall hard

At nineteen, I was the king of the dirt down at the Remington draw
I liked the pedal and I didn't mind the wall
'Midst the roar of the metal I never heard a sound
I was looking for anything, any kind of drug to lift me up off this ground

Drive fast, fall hard, I'll keep you in my heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars
Just drive fast, fall hard

We met on the set of this B picture that she made
She liked her guys a little greasy and 'neath her pay grade
We headed down to Baja in the desert, we made our stand of it
Figured maybe together we could get the broken pieces to fit

Drive fast, fall hard, keep me in your heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars
Just drive fast, fall hard
I'll keep you in my heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scar
Just drive fast, fall hard





I got two pins in my ankle and a busted collarbone
A steel rod in my leg, but it walks me home

Overall Meaning

In Bruce Springsteen's song "Drive Fast," the lyrics tell a story of a person who has endured physical pain and emotional struggle, but has found solace in the act of driving fast. In the first verse, the singer describes their injuries, including two pins in their ankle, a busted collarbone, and a steel rod in their leg. Despite these injuries, the singer can still walk, and they recall climbing high into a tree as a child without fear, only feeling the breeze. Then, at nineteen, the singer indulged in dangerous driving, not minding the walls they hit, and searched for any kind of drug to escape their reality.


In the second verse, the singer depicts meeting someone on the set of a B movie, someone who liked their partners "greasy" and beneath their pay grade. The two then head to the desert in Baja, making a stand against their broken pasts. Throughout the song, the chorus repeats the phrase, "Drive fast, fall hard, I'll keep you in my heart, don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars." From these lines, we can gather that despite the risks and potential harm, the singer finds solace in driving fast and living in the moment, despite the potential dangers it poses. Springsteen's "Drive Fast" tells a story of living on the edge, finding comfort in things outside of oneself, and putting oneself in the line of fire as a way of coping with life's challenges.


Line by Line Meaning

I got two pins in my ankle and a busted collarbone
I have been injured before, and physically, I'm not entirely out of the aftermath.


A steel rod in my leg, but it walks me home
Despite the injuries, I still work myself tirelessly and persistently.


At nine, I climbed high into the boughs of our neighborhood's tallest tree
In my childhood, I used to take risks and climb trees, without thinking of the dangers.


I don't remember the fear, just the breeze
I didn't feel scared when I was climbing trees, I only remember the feeling of the wind on my face.


Drive fast, fall hard, I'll keep you in my heart
Take risks and chase your dreams, no matter what happens, I'll still value you.


Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars
Don't be anxious about the future, and don't pay attention to the marks left by the past.


At nineteen, I was the king of the dirt down at the Remington draw
At 19, I was the best at the racetrack.


I liked the pedal and I didn't mind the wall
I enjoyed racing at high speeds, and any obstacles that came along with it were an afterthought.


Midst the roar of the metal I never heard a sound
Despite the loudness of the surroundings, I was too focused on what I was doing to take notice of it.


I was looking for anything, any kind of drug to lift me up off this ground
I was searching for anything that could make me feel good, even if it was just temporary.


We met on the set of this B picture that she made
We came to know each other when we were working on a low budget movie.


She liked her guys a little greasy and 'neath her pay grade
She preferred her men to have humble beginnings and present themselves in a scruffier manner.


We headed down to Baja in the desert, we made our stand of it
We went to Baja with high hopes of building our life together.


Figured maybe together we could get the broken pieces to fit
We thought that maybe together we could bring ourselves together and make a better whole of ourselves.


Drive fast, fall hard, keep me in your heart
Let's chase our dreams and take risks together, and I'll still maintain my love for you.


I'll keep you in my heart
I will always cherish you.


Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scar
Don't fret about the future, and disregard what has been inflicted on you by life.


Just drive fast, fall hard
Go after what you want no matter the outcome, life is too short to not take risks.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

orca orcu

I got two pins in my ankle and a busted collarbone
A steel rod in my leg, but it walks me home
At nine, I climbed high into the boughs of our neighborhood's tallest tree
I don't remember the fear, just the breeze
Drive fast, fall hard, I'll keep you in my heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars
Just drive fast, fall hard
At nineteen, I was the king of the dirt down at the Remington draw
I liked the pedal and I didn't mind the wall
'Midst the roar of the metal I never heard a sound
I was looking for anything, any kind of drug to lift me up off this ground
Drive fast, fall hard, I'll keep you in my heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars
Just drive fast, fall hard
We met on the set of this B picture that she made
She liked her guys a little greasy and 'neath her pay grade
We headed down to Baja in the desert, we made our stand of it
Figured maybe together we could get the broken pieces to fit
Drive fast, fall hard, keep me in your heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars
Just drive fast, fall hard
I'll keep you in my heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scar
Just drive fast, fall hard
I got two pins in my ankle and a busted collarbone
A steel rod in my leg, but it walks me home...



All comments from YouTube:

Willett Mary

So many sides to this man's musical world, all equally awesome, albeit for different reasons. 💕

Tim Fehrenbach

an instant classic, it might be my favorite under the radar song of the album

orca orcu

I got two pins in my ankle and a busted collarbone
A steel rod in my leg, but it walks me home
At nine, I climbed high into the boughs of our neighborhood's tallest tree
I don't remember the fear, just the breeze
Drive fast, fall hard, I'll keep you in my heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars
Just drive fast, fall hard
At nineteen, I was the king of the dirt down at the Remington draw
I liked the pedal and I didn't mind the wall
'Midst the roar of the metal I never heard a sound
I was looking for anything, any kind of drug to lift me up off this ground
Drive fast, fall hard, I'll keep you in my heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars
Just drive fast, fall hard
We met on the set of this B picture that she made
She liked her guys a little greasy and 'neath her pay grade
We headed down to Baja in the desert, we made our stand of it
Figured maybe together we could get the broken pieces to fit
Drive fast, fall hard, keep me in your heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scars
Just drive fast, fall hard
I'll keep you in my heart
Don't worry about tomorrow, don't mind the scar
Just drive fast, fall hard
I got two pins in my ankle and a busted collarbone
A steel rod in my leg, but it walks me home...

dawnpatrol700

How do you something this awesome a million years into your career? Amazing

Marco Speekenbrink

These songs on Western Stars are growing and growing on me and i start to realize how great they are, really great.

Daniel HKHK7

Best album since over 30 years.

Joe Bob

Amazing, isn't it? I'm a Bruce fan from back in the 70s...I had kind of drifted away after Human Touch, just couldn't relate. But now (2023!), this album really connects. People might say, well of course - you're old - only in years and appearance, my friend - I never grew up ;-) - and I hated anything that felt like "Country" music - but this is unbelievably good, with the strings, the horns, and of course - the Poet, Springsteen.

Christophe Leroy

Great song, great album 👊✋

Cathy Hardy

I love to listen to this album while I am driving. I love so many of these tunes. I am unable to pick a favorite.

Alexandra Arnold

I'm really loving Bruces new sound and the songs are so beautiful 🎸❤️

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