"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've been down this road once or twice before
Through the open door
I come falling through it
There's a sign post up ahead
Like a watershed
And it opens my eyes
Ways, for me to begin
To be born again
And knowing for the first time
Ways, all so differently
Shine for me to see
The better man that I am
I've been places in my head
Behind me worse than what's ahead
And on my path just like a dream
Takes me from the in between
From out of nowhere you came strong as stone
And now I'll never have to be alone
What it is I know
You have always been my safe home
I walk, I run, I burn out into you
You have always been my safe home
My whole world has moved on
I know what I am and I'll always be
Your reality, is better than I could dream
All my fears turn from black to white
And I'd stand and fight
The whole world for you
Faith, and destiny
I never did believe
My only God is love and
Faith, what I see in you
And I can hold it true
Like a weight in my hand.
Through the open door
I come falling through it
There's a sign post up ahead
Like a watershed
And it opens my eyes
Ways, for me to begin
To be born again
And knowing for the first time
Ways, all so differently
Shine for me to see
The better man that I am
I've been places in my head
Behind me worse than what's ahead
And on my path just like a dream
Takes me from the in between
From out of nowhere you came strong as stone
And now I'll never have to be alone
What it is I know
You have always been my safe home
I walk, I run, I burn out into you
You have always been my safe home
My whole world has moved on
I know what I am and I'll always be
Your reality, is better than I could dream
All my fears turn from black to white
And I'd stand and fight
The whole world for you
Faith, and destiny
I never did believe
My only God is love and
Faith, what I see in you
And I can hold it true
Like a weight in my hand.
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