"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.
26 hours, 2000 miles away
A broken trust severed us
An ocean of secrets that you left behind Unlocked by false assumptions
I'm stupid and dumb in the brain
And I shouldn't have, shouldn't have, shouldn't have
Shouldn't haveÂ
Pushed you awayÂ
[Chorus: x2]
Now that you're gone, I know what I've lost
And I can't get you out of my mind
I wish I could turn back time
I'm biting my tongue with my foot in mouth
I'm kicking myself, kicking myself in the ass
I know I shouldn't judge you by your past
Â
Jealousy hit me
I screamed and shouted at you
When I heard that you've been with my friends It's none of my business, what you have been through
I was scared I would get hurt again
I'm stupid, I made a mistake
And I shouldn't have, shouldn't have, shouldn't have
Shouldn't have
Pushed you awayÂ
[Chorus]
Your past
A broken trust severed us
An ocean of secrets that you left behind Unlocked by false assumptions
I'm stupid and dumb in the brain
And I shouldn't have, shouldn't have, shouldn't have
Shouldn't haveÂ
Pushed you awayÂ
[Chorus: x2]
Now that you're gone, I know what I've lost
And I can't get you out of my mind
I wish I could turn back time
I'm biting my tongue with my foot in mouth
I'm kicking myself, kicking myself in the ass
I know I shouldn't judge you by your past
Â
Jealousy hit me
I screamed and shouted at you
When I heard that you've been with my friends It's none of my business, what you have been through
I was scared I would get hurt again
I'm stupid, I made a mistake
And I shouldn't have, shouldn't have, shouldn't have
Shouldn't have
Pushed you awayÂ
[Chorus]
Your past
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Fast Car
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this song got me hooked on home grown
this song reminds me of a situation im in at the moment
I was scared I would get hurt again I'm stupid, I made a mistake And I shouldn't have, shouldn't have, shouldn't have Shouldn't have Pushed you away
Man this song is really good. Another one of Home Growns songs that I can relate with. Which is why they were really good. Its hard not to let someones past play a role in if you get involved.. I disagree with it. I shoulda listened to her past, because if I would I coulda seen what happened ahead of time.. lol. Its also hard to forget the tiny factor that a girl may have slept with 70 guys or something.. lol. Certain things are important.