"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 turn my head
I spin my wheels
Running on empty
You know how that feels
I'm on a roll now
Or is it a slide?
Can't be too careful
With that dangerous pride
If I could only reach that dial inside
If I could only reach that dial inside
If I could only reach that dial inside
And turn it up
(Face up), face up or you can only back down
(Face up), hit the target, or you better hit the ground
(Face up), there's still time to turn this game around
(Face up), turn it up or turn that wild card down
(Face up), turn it up
Don't complain
Don't explain
I don't think my new resolve
Can stand the strain
I'm in a groove now
Or is it a rut?
I need some feedback
But all the lines are cut
I get so angry, but I keep my mouth shut
I get so angry, but I keep my mouth shut
I get so angry, but I keep my mouth shut
And turn it up
(Face up), face up or you can only back down
(Face up), hit the target, or you better hit the ground
(Face up), there's still time to turn this game around
(Face up), turn it up or turn that wild card down
(Face up), turn it up
You get all squeezed-up inside
Like the days were carved in stone
You get all wired-up inside
And it's bad to be alone
You can go out, you can take a ride
And when you get out on your own
You get all smoothed-out inside
And it's good to be alone
Turn it up
(Face up), face up or you can only back down
(Face up), hit the target, or you better hit the ground
(Face up), there's still time to turn this game around
(Face up), turn it up or turn that wild card down
(Face up) or you can only back down
(Face up), hit the target, or you better hit the ground
(Face up), there's still time to turn this game around
(Face up), turn it up or turn that wild card down
(Face up), turn it up or turn that wild card down
If I could only reach that dial inside
Turn the wild card
If I could only reach that dial inside
Turn your wild card down
If I could only reach that dial inside
Turn it up or turn your wild card
If I could only reach that dial inside
Turn it up or turn your wild card down
I spin my wheels
Running on empty
You know how that feels
I'm on a roll now
Or is it a slide?
Can't be too careful
With that dangerous pride
If I could only reach that dial inside
If I could only reach that dial inside
If I could only reach that dial inside
And turn it up
(Face up), face up or you can only back down
(Face up), hit the target, or you better hit the ground
(Face up), there's still time to turn this game around
(Face up), turn it up or turn that wild card down
(Face up), turn it up
Don't complain
Don't explain
I don't think my new resolve
Can stand the strain
I'm in a groove now
Or is it a rut?
I need some feedback
But all the lines are cut
I get so angry, but I keep my mouth shut
I get so angry, but I keep my mouth shut
I get so angry, but I keep my mouth shut
And turn it up
(Face up), face up or you can only back down
(Face up), hit the target, or you better hit the ground
(Face up), there's still time to turn this game around
(Face up), turn it up or turn that wild card down
(Face up), turn it up
You get all squeezed-up inside
Like the days were carved in stone
You get all wired-up inside
And it's bad to be alone
You can go out, you can take a ride
And when you get out on your own
You get all smoothed-out inside
And it's good to be alone
Turn it up
(Face up), face up or you can only back down
(Face up), hit the target, or you better hit the ground
(Face up), there's still time to turn this game around
(Face up), turn it up or turn that wild card down
(Face up) or you can only back down
(Face up), hit the target, or you better hit the ground
(Face up), there's still time to turn this game around
(Face up), turn it up or turn that wild card down
(Face up), turn it up or turn that wild card down
If I could only reach that dial inside
Turn the wild card
If I could only reach that dial inside
Turn your wild card down
If I could only reach that dial inside
Turn it up or turn your wild card
If I could only reach that dial inside
Turn it up or turn your wild card down
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