"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.
Don't give a damn what it's all about
I just wanna see how it all turns out
My mind's skin tight, but my skin's so loose
Everclear is apple juice, I'm swinging on a liquid noose
Get me drunk and get in line
I'm everybody's valentine
Meet me in a few more sips
Kiss my red apocalips
I will never be ignored
I may be a slut, but I'm never bored
I'll go down on anything
Cage that bird and watch her sing
High on life, but it's not mine
Everybody's valentine
Damaged goods all bought and sold
Cunt's cast iron, but my heart's pure gold
Drunk is: opening a wound half-healed
Drunk is: every little fantasy revealed
Drunk is: babble on 'til everybody thinks they see your soul
Drunk is: going from control freak to a freak with no control
Fill my hole with cum and wine
I'm everybody's valentine
This bitter little mouth is my only claim to fame
'Cause once you've given head, nothing ever tastes the same
Drunk is: opening a wound half-healed
Drunk is: every bit of cruelty revealed
Drunk is: turning my shame into my pride
Drunk is: always a bridesmaid, never a bride
I just wanna see how it all turns out
My mind's skin tight, but my skin's so loose
Everclear is apple juice, I'm swinging on a liquid noose
Get me drunk and get in line
I'm everybody's valentine
Meet me in a few more sips
Kiss my red apocalips
I will never be ignored
I may be a slut, but I'm never bored
I'll go down on anything
Cage that bird and watch her sing
High on life, but it's not mine
Everybody's valentine
Damaged goods all bought and sold
Cunt's cast iron, but my heart's pure gold
Drunk is: opening a wound half-healed
Drunk is: every little fantasy revealed
Drunk is: babble on 'til everybody thinks they see your soul
Drunk is: going from control freak to a freak with no control
Fill my hole with cum and wine
I'm everybody's valentine
This bitter little mouth is my only claim to fame
'Cause once you've given head, nothing ever tastes the same
Drunk is: opening a wound half-healed
Drunk is: every bit of cruelty revealed
Drunk is: turning my shame into my pride
Drunk is: always a bridesmaid, never a bride
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Fast Car
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