"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.
Just what lived and just what died is open to conjecture.
The one that walked away can't find the words to say.
In the early morning sun death just did a little dance.
He opened up a grave and stole the day.
He stopped believing.
It's time to lose.
Just what's truth and just what's lies is open to conjecture.
The words that slipped away fell silent to the grave.
Off the early morning sun, dead man's click, a dagger in the ribs.
He opened up a grave and stole the day.
Waiting for the time to lose.
The one that walked away can't find the words to say.
In the early morning sun death just did a little dance.
He opened up a grave and stole the day.
He stopped believing.
It's time to lose.
Just what's truth and just what's lies is open to conjecture.
The words that slipped away fell silent to the grave.
Off the early morning sun, dead man's click, a dagger in the ribs.
He opened up a grave and stole the day.
Waiting for the time to lose.
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Fast Car
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