"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.
My mother raise me single-handedly
In a Louisiana hell called Harvey
I never know what I'm supposed to be
Turned over every rock for clues
Of what it is to be me
And I never know what's going on
But I'm blessed and I guess
And I swim in the streets when it rains
And I've seen grown men act so insane
But now the weather has changed
But in my head the climate's still the same
I still feel pain each time I hear my name
But I never know what's going on
But I'm blessed and I guess
And I used to be so flattered
But now I just feel shattered
And I try not to think about it
My head's already clouded
And I have castanet fingers
And I sweat bullets when I'm triggered
And I'd like to wind up with someone like her
And we'll live happily ever after
But it won't matter that I'm a little scattered
And I never know what's going on
But I'm blessed and I guess
In a Louisiana hell called Harvey
I never know what I'm supposed to be
Turned over every rock for clues
Of what it is to be me
And I never know what's going on
But I'm blessed and I guess
And I swim in the streets when it rains
And I've seen grown men act so insane
But now the weather has changed
But in my head the climate's still the same
I still feel pain each time I hear my name
But I never know what's going on
But I'm blessed and I guess
And I used to be so flattered
But now I just feel shattered
And I try not to think about it
My head's already clouded
And I have castanet fingers
And I sweat bullets when I'm triggered
And I'd like to wind up with someone like her
And we'll live happily ever after
But it won't matter that I'm a little scattered
And I never know what's going on
But I'm blessed and I guess
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Fast Car
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Holiday
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
When We Were Young
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Magical
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