"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.
I can almost read your mind
It's runnin' fast, out of control
You're afraid of what you'll find
If you get too close
You imagine I don't care
You see walls that just aren't there
You think I'm too strong to let you in
Well, boy that's just not fair
I'm not so tough, I'll call your bluff
And let you see a side of me
That wants you here and cries real tears
I need someone to love
I'm not so tough
I know that you've been hurt before
Well so have I, what can you do
That doesn't mean you close the door
So stop blamin' me, I don't blame you
I'm not some ghost from your past
The one who tore your heart in half
I'm not her
It's not my fault you're holding on to that
I'm not so tough, I'll call your bluff
And let you see a side of me
That wants you here and cries real tears
I need someone to love
I'm not so tough
It's runnin' fast, out of control
You're afraid of what you'll find
If you get too close
You imagine I don't care
You see walls that just aren't there
You think I'm too strong to let you in
Well, boy that's just not fair
I'm not so tough, I'll call your bluff
And let you see a side of me
That wants you here and cries real tears
I need someone to love
I'm not so tough
I know that you've been hurt before
Well so have I, what can you do
That doesn't mean you close the door
So stop blamin' me, I don't blame you
I'm not some ghost from your past
The one who tore your heart in half
I'm not her
It's not my fault you're holding on to that
I'm not so tough, I'll call your bluff
And let you see a side of me
That wants you here and cries real tears
I need someone to love
I'm not so tough
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