"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.
you've got all the right patches
none of your records have scratches
you've been to all the hip shows
and you're wearing just the right clothes
and when I see you at the show
the conversation doesn't flow
something is wrong
and I can't see just why you have to be so mean
you used to be nice
now you've got punk rocks in your head
we started out knowing nothing
a bunch of dorks new to "the scene"
we all bitch about "the scene"
but now there's something in between
you're quoting everybody else
you're not thinking for yourself
just like everybody else
you're just another dumbass with punk rocks in your head
what is so different about you?
exactly what do I have to do
to measure up to your standards?
to escape your slander?
forget it, you can save your breath
your stupid game bores me to death
and I know you'll never get it
your attitude just makes me sick
you're such an asshole
now you've got punk rocks in your head
you used to be nice
now you've got punk rocks in your head
none of your records have scratches
you've been to all the hip shows
and you're wearing just the right clothes
and when I see you at the show
the conversation doesn't flow
something is wrong
and I can't see just why you have to be so mean
you used to be nice
now you've got punk rocks in your head
we started out knowing nothing
a bunch of dorks new to "the scene"
we all bitch about "the scene"
but now there's something in between
you're quoting everybody else
you're not thinking for yourself
just like everybody else
you're just another dumbass with punk rocks in your head
what is so different about you?
exactly what do I have to do
to measure up to your standards?
to escape your slander?
forget it, you can save your breath
your stupid game bores me to death
and I know you'll never get it
your attitude just makes me sick
you're such an asshole
now you've got punk rocks in your head
you used to be nice
now you've got punk rocks in your head
Lyrics submitted by thefallenstar
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i think we all know at least a few people like this. people at shows that would rather tell you about how much more punk they are than you and everyone else. it really makes me want to break their faces.