"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.
not yet 21
with introductions done
a first slow dance just ends
I was at my best
we ignored the rest
(my band and your friends)
but as better night became best day
we left the party while last records played
what started as dessert back at your house
ended on the couch
hours at your mouth
sunday's on our hands
we followed were it led
I followed you to bed
we started secret plans
forward 7 months: I've only seen you once
I never call on time
trying to seem tough
I said one visit's enough
enough to keep you mine
(of course it wasn't)
we were done by June
you'd graduate and leave for london soon
your layover at newark's near my house
we met for dinner there
just one hour to spare
your 20's all mapped out
I'm in my driest drought
feeling old and shot and how
and this is what I thought:
I seem to still be caught
I'm a footnote at best
I envy who comes next
wish we could just make out
'The hour's almost up'
you said into your cup
and it makes no difference now
as I help lift your bags out
that I'm lost and out of rope
while on my wrist you wrote
your newest number down
I kind of said your name
but you'd turn to your plane
so I backed my car out
I knew we'd never write
(somehow that seemed all right)
but this counts as calling three years out
[End lyrics]
Making out's enough /
we need faster guns /
maybe i give up /
maybe money isn't coming /
it'd be nice to just have fun /
maybe married counts as running /
let's run together /
I'm going back in time
with introductions done
a first slow dance just ends
I was at my best
we ignored the rest
(my band and your friends)
but as better night became best day
we left the party while last records played
what started as dessert back at your house
ended on the couch
hours at your mouth
sunday's on our hands
we followed were it led
I followed you to bed
we started secret plans
forward 7 months: I've only seen you once
I never call on time
trying to seem tough
I said one visit's enough
enough to keep you mine
(of course it wasn't)
we were done by June
you'd graduate and leave for london soon
your layover at newark's near my house
we met for dinner there
just one hour to spare
your 20's all mapped out
I'm in my driest drought
feeling old and shot and how
and this is what I thought:
I seem to still be caught
I'm a footnote at best
I envy who comes next
wish we could just make out
'The hour's almost up'
you said into your cup
and it makes no difference now
as I help lift your bags out
that I'm lost and out of rope
while on my wrist you wrote
your newest number down
I kind of said your name
but you'd turn to your plane
so I backed my car out
I knew we'd never write
(somehow that seemed all right)
but this counts as calling three years out
[End lyrics]
Making out's enough /
we need faster guns /
maybe i give up /
maybe money isn't coming /
it'd be nice to just have fun /
maybe married counts as running /
let's run together /
I'm going back in time
Lyrics submitted by Nimbus the Kitten, edited by zapzipzop
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