"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.
When love is new
And the world is not reaching for you
We try hard to hold it all
In our hands
But it slipped through
Like soft drifting sands
But drying the tears
Can build it all like new
[CHORUS ]
Now and forever
Remember the words
From my heart will always be true
Now and forever
Together and all that I feel
Here's my love for for you
Learning each day
That the right time was so far away
To tell you the things I knew
Now it's clear
That the moment
We searched for is here
And counting the years
Is all I want to do
[CHORUS]
Hold me as close
As love will allow
Until all your fears are gone
What has all passed
Is over now
I'm here with you
I'm here with you
I'm holding on
I'm holding on
[CHORUS]
And the world is not reaching for you
We try hard to hold it all
In our hands
But it slipped through
Like soft drifting sands
But drying the tears
Can build it all like new
[CHORUS ]
Now and forever
Remember the words
From my heart will always be true
Now and forever
Together and all that I feel
Here's my love for for you
Learning each day
That the right time was so far away
To tell you the things I knew
Now it's clear
That the moment
We searched for is here
And counting the years
Is all I want to do
[CHORUS]
Hold me as close
As love will allow
Until all your fears are gone
What has all passed
Is over now
I'm here with you
I'm here with you
I'm holding on
I'm holding on
[CHORUS]
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