"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.
what may i ask
it's never enough
it's never too sweet
and it's never too rough
what's there to do?
while you're waiting your turn
just pick on your scabs
and watch your cigarette burns
no no no
it's just that i act
so stupid sometimes
i forget all the rules
when waiting in line
don't get me wrong
cause im happy to be
anything but still
oh, my what a wonderful day
oh, my what a wonderful day for me
there's so much out there
that you can't see
from sitting in here
but dont you worry
cause i'll bring you the world
i'll bring you it all
you don't have to search
no you don't have to crawl
no no no
ok it's time, we're leaving this place
tie up your lace
for the second foot race
the monsters next door
and the lack of space
are no longer ours
cause we really don't need it
oh, my what a wonderful day
oh, my what a wonderful day for me
just out for a walk
on this lovely, sunny, sunday afternoon
it's never enough
it's never too sweet
and it's never too rough
what's there to do?
while you're waiting your turn
just pick on your scabs
and watch your cigarette burns
no no no
it's just that i act
so stupid sometimes
i forget all the rules
when waiting in line
don't get me wrong
cause im happy to be
anything but still
oh, my what a wonderful day
oh, my what a wonderful day for me
there's so much out there
that you can't see
from sitting in here
but dont you worry
cause i'll bring you the world
i'll bring you it all
you don't have to search
no you don't have to crawl
no no no
ok it's time, we're leaving this place
tie up your lace
for the second foot race
the monsters next door
and the lack of space
are no longer ours
cause we really don't need it
oh, my what a wonderful day
oh, my what a wonderful day for me
just out for a walk
on this lovely, sunny, sunday afternoon
Lyrics submitted by playcracktheskyyy
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Fast Car
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This version is the demo for "Oh My" -- it was on their Glassblower EP, I believe.