"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.
Dan and I got stoned
On my porch the day your ashes hit the river
I considered irony
I couldn't quite think of any word
"B" thinks I should write you a letter
That it might be better than just lashing out
So I gave it to a typewritter
And it was also ridiculous written down
I remember so much light off you
Every song held a smile for you
I often do these things like you
Laughing out the side of my face
Dancing to your old mix tapes
A sweater soft, a hug goodbye
When you called us three days later
We all knew you were high
We all knew you were tired
But we thought you'd make it through the night
Every song held a smile for you
I remember so much life in you
How I never had the guts to make a move
I remember walking out on you
On my porch the day your ashes hit the river
I considered irony
I couldn't quite think of any word
"B" thinks I should write you a letter
That it might be better than just lashing out
So I gave it to a typewritter
And it was also ridiculous written down
I remember so much light off you
Every song held a smile for you
I often do these things like you
Laughing out the side of my face
Dancing to your old mix tapes
A sweater soft, a hug goodbye
When you called us three days later
We all knew you were high
We all knew you were tired
But we thought you'd make it through the night
Every song held a smile for you
I remember so much life in you
How I never had the guts to make a move
I remember walking out on you
Lyrics submitted by three star salute
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just two minor corrections- 1.i couldn't quite think of any worse*
i think this is about a girl who he used to have feelings for (which were mutual). but he never made a move so nothing ever happened between them.
maybe she went away for a while ["a sweater soft, a hug goodbye. when you called us three days later"] then unexpectedly committed suicide.. ["we all knew you were tired, but we thought you'd make it through the night."] and he was angry about not being able to stop her ["B thinks i should write you a letter, that it might be better than just lashing out."] i'm not sure who "B" is. an abbreviation, maybe for a psychiatrist, or just anyone who he doesn't want to name. or maybe it's simpler than that, and is just a nickname for someone.