"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.
If you want to see the sun, then son you better get up
And daughter, if you've never lived, then now's the time to start
Put a ribbon in your hair to save yourself from harm
Saturday, Saturday, never a moment of rest
The wolves are howling at the door, would you kindly look your best?
Children, take your mother's hand and meet me at the gate
Your father's packing up our things, he does the best he can, but winning all the best in life can leave a broken man
Oh Sunday, Sunday, never a moment of peace
The neighbors, they are laughing now, another stalking street
And daughter, if you've never lived, then now's the time to start
Put a ribbon in your hair to save yourself from harm
Saturday, Saturday, never a moment of rest
The wolves are howling at the door, would you kindly look your best?
Children, take your mother's hand and meet me at the gate
Your father's packing up our things, he does the best he can, but winning all the best in life can leave a broken man
Oh Sunday, Sunday, never a moment of peace
The neighbors, they are laughing now, another stalking street
Lyrics submitted by greened
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