"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.
(Number six)
(Hey buddy, now lis-, listen and listen tight)
Can't stand it no more
People dying
Crying for help for so many years
But nobody hears
Better end soon, my friend
It better end soon, my friend
Yeah
Can't take it no more
The people hating
Hurting their brothers
They don't understand
They can't understand
Better end soon, my friend
It better end soon, my friend
Yeah, yeah-yeah
Just think about it
(Hey buddy, now lis-, listen and listen tight)
Can't stand it no more
People dying
Crying for help for so many years
But nobody hears
Better end soon, my friend
It better end soon, my friend
Yeah
Can't take it no more
The people hating
Hurting their brothers
They don't understand
They can't understand
Better end soon, my friend
It better end soon, my friend
Yeah, yeah-yeah
Just think about it
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