"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 don't believe in unity
It's just one more abandoned dream
Once the people get together it's easy to see
It's just a matter of time til they come after me
But it must be pretty cool to be you
With your brothers at your back, protecting you
It must be pretty cool to know you belong
Isolated my whole life counting scars in the land of the smiling knives
Yes I'm envious it's true, but it must be cool to be you
You got a loving family to give you everything you need
My family loves each other so much
We live a thousand miles away and never stay in touch
But it must be pretty cool to be you
With a home and a family to go home to
Must be pretty cool to know you belong
Isolated my whole life counting scars in the land of the smiling knives
Yes I'm envious it's true but it must be cool to be you
What can I do? I know this bitter jealousy is wrong
Maybe I'll move, and find a brand new place I don't belong
Some friends I'll never know (I'll never know)
New places I can't go (I can't go)
Cause everywhere I've been
Is on the outside lookin in...
You got a deep sustaining faith,
A lord who listens when you pray
I was raised in a church and I was taught to believe
I wonder if god believes in me...
It must be pretty cool to be you
With your holy faith sustaining you
Must be pretty cool to know you belong
Isolated my whole life counting scars in the land of the smiling knives
Yes I'm envious it's true but it must be cool to be you
Must be cool to be you
Must be cool
It's just one more abandoned dream
Once the people get together it's easy to see
It's just a matter of time til they come after me
But it must be pretty cool to be you
With your brothers at your back, protecting you
It must be pretty cool to know you belong
Isolated my whole life counting scars in the land of the smiling knives
Yes I'm envious it's true, but it must be cool to be you
You got a loving family to give you everything you need
My family loves each other so much
We live a thousand miles away and never stay in touch
But it must be pretty cool to be you
With a home and a family to go home to
Must be pretty cool to know you belong
Isolated my whole life counting scars in the land of the smiling knives
Yes I'm envious it's true but it must be cool to be you
What can I do? I know this bitter jealousy is wrong
Maybe I'll move, and find a brand new place I don't belong
Some friends I'll never know (I'll never know)
New places I can't go (I can't go)
Cause everywhere I've been
Is on the outside lookin in...
You got a deep sustaining faith,
A lord who listens when you pray
I was raised in a church and I was taught to believe
I wonder if god believes in me...
It must be pretty cool to be you
With your holy faith sustaining you
Must be pretty cool to know you belong
Isolated my whole life counting scars in the land of the smiling knives
Yes I'm envious it's true but it must be cool to be you
Must be cool to be you
Must be cool
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Fast Car
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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^agreed.
one of my favorite songs.