"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.
Eyes opened up within the moist and dark
Trapped inside the measures of a coffin
Horrified awakening, blank fears embrace me
Oh... beyond...
...beyond these walls there lies infinity...
Asphyxiation is imminent due to the measures
Of this confinement,
Blind hits against the coffin walls,
Blank fears control me
To breathe in a casket - six feet below
To breathe in a casket - below
Buried deep beneath the earth
Beneath the earth
Blank fears embrace me
Embrace me
Buried deep six feet below
Six feet below
Blank fears control me
Control me
Breathing inside a casket
Trapped inside the measures of a coffin
Horrified awakening, blank fears embrace me
Oh... beyond...
...beyond these walls there lies infinity...
Asphyxiation is imminent due to the measures
Of this confinement,
Blind hits against the coffin walls,
Blank fears control me
To breathe in a casket - six feet below
To breathe in a casket - below
Buried deep beneath the earth
Beneath the earth
Blank fears embrace me
Embrace me
Buried deep six feet below
Six feet below
Blank fears control me
Control me
Breathing inside a casket
Lyrics submitted by Disposition_987
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Fast Car
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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.
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This is an amazing song. I can't help but love it.