"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.
Streetlights seem bright tonight
When I’m making my way home
Cars seem to be in a hurry
In a hurry to leave here
I feel alive, I feel dead
It’s all the same, covered in red rose pedals
And you are safe by the blanket of flowers
That keeps you warm
You are safe
I drift lifeless in this ocean
The ditch I dug has filled with water
Watch me rise and watch me fall
The tide controls me now
Now I sit with my head in my hands
I don’t like being alone
Hear tears dropping to the floor
May the white birds follow you home
And may you always be safe
May you always be safe
I can slip through gaps between
Bar in this prison that I dwell in
Nobodies here, nobody cares
The whole world is falling, and nobody cares
But you are safe
May you always be safe
Helplessly I call your name
Who could need you more then I do?
Fall to my knees
Whisper your name into the wind
I hope it somehow reaches you
Hope you know that I’d die for you
It should have been me
I am imperfect and you are flawless
Beautiful and always smiling
Now I sit with my head in my hands
Feel the tears seep through my fingers
Suffering in a small price to pay
To know that you are safe
Finally, you’re safe
But I call out your name one more time
Hoping somehow it will reach you
The whole world is falling, and nobody cares
But you are safe
You are safe
You are safe
You are safe
You are safe
When I’m making my way home
Cars seem to be in a hurry
In a hurry to leave here
I feel alive, I feel dead
It’s all the same, covered in red rose pedals
And you are safe by the blanket of flowers
That keeps you warm
You are safe
I drift lifeless in this ocean
The ditch I dug has filled with water
Watch me rise and watch me fall
The tide controls me now
Now I sit with my head in my hands
I don’t like being alone
Hear tears dropping to the floor
May the white birds follow you home
And may you always be safe
May you always be safe
I can slip through gaps between
Bar in this prison that I dwell in
Nobodies here, nobody cares
The whole world is falling, and nobody cares
But you are safe
May you always be safe
Helplessly I call your name
Who could need you more then I do?
Fall to my knees
Whisper your name into the wind
I hope it somehow reaches you
Hope you know that I’d die for you
It should have been me
I am imperfect and you are flawless
Beautiful and always smiling
Now I sit with my head in my hands
Feel the tears seep through my fingers
Suffering in a small price to pay
To know that you are safe
Finally, you’re safe
But I call out your name one more time
Hoping somehow it will reach you
The whole world is falling, and nobody cares
But you are safe
You are safe
You are safe
You are safe
You are safe
Lyrics submitted by Chris77
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