"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.
I kept the smoothest seashell
that you gave me on the shoreline.
And I keep it in my pocket,
and I think about you sometimes.
I don't need it,
but it's okay if you kiss me in the driveway.
I only brought it because
I thought you'd want it back.
But you decided to abandon,
need some time on your own.
So you ask the clocks for healing,
but their hands keep you alone.
Someone told you time repairs it.
I said
No, it just forgets it,
and I need you to remember who I am.
Quite a lot of love to give
for someone as cold as I am.
Quite a stupid thing we did
for someone as cold as I am.
Quite a lot of friends I have
for someone as cold as I am.
Quite a fucking mess we're in
for someone as cold as I am.
But when it's over
you should call me
because I'm awake and always will be.
I cannot eat,
I better not sleep until you're okay.
that you gave me on the shoreline.
And I keep it in my pocket,
and I think about you sometimes.
I don't need it,
but it's okay if you kiss me in the driveway.
I only brought it because
I thought you'd want it back.
But you decided to abandon,
need some time on your own.
So you ask the clocks for healing,
but their hands keep you alone.
Someone told you time repairs it.
I said
No, it just forgets it,
and I need you to remember who I am.
Quite a lot of love to give
for someone as cold as I am.
Quite a stupid thing we did
for someone as cold as I am.
Quite a lot of friends I have
for someone as cold as I am.
Quite a fucking mess we're in
for someone as cold as I am.
But when it's over
you should call me
because I'm awake and always will be.
I cannot eat,
I better not sleep until you're okay.
Lyrics submitted by punkrockchick217
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Fast Car
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This song is quite beautiful, and especially heart-wrenching with the lines '...for someone as cold as I am.'
I believe it concerns someone who doesn't think they deserve "the smoothest seashell" - that is, love. Unconditional love, perhaps. ("I only brought it because I thought you'd want it back.")
But with the second stanza it seems the one who gave the seashell ended up leaving the speaker for -their own- despair to be fixed. It hasn't yet, by the end of the song.
Once again, it's heart-wrenching when you dig and find that the speaker deeply cares for this loving person who is nevertheless suffering.