"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'm o doun, doun, doun I'm a doun for lack o'Johnnie Gine Johnnie kent I was ne weel I'm sure he would come to me But o gin he's forsaken me Och hone what will come o' me I am sad, sad, sad I am sad for lack of Johnnie If Johnnie knew that I was not well I'm sure he would come to me But in the gin-house he has forsaken me Oh now what will become of me
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The singer is in love with Johnny, who seems to have forsaken her. For this reason, she is feeling very sad and down (doun - is Scottish accent for down, i think)