"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.
The world seems out of touch now
I don't get out so much
I don't feel the same
In these bones anymore
My heels are all worn down
My loyalties are torn
I'm finding different paths now
I never saw before
And it hurts less every day
The paths lead me away
Lead me away from those
Blood Thirsty Bastards
Making plans for no one
But themselves
In this world of disaster
I just need someone
For myself
All the sycophants and vampires
Well I packed them off to hell
Oh I've been up for days now
I hope no one can tell
I do my bit oh yes
To cleanse my hands from lies
I'm feeding up the zombies
Hatched from their own eyes
And from these eyes
The weary eyes-cum shadows
Of a very different man
Blood thirsty bastards making plans for no one
but their own
I got to be my own master
get away from these braggards, tricksters, foolish clones
Oh look at how they laugh at you now
What did you do to make this bad become true
For heavens sake
such a silly mistake
You're a legend in your mind
But a rumor in your room
They all followed me down here
To an alleys dirty end
Oh I had nothing to give them
I just thought they were my friends
Doesn't matter now
I'm angry anyhow
So its the best way I can deal with
Blood thirsty bastards
making plans for no one
But their kind
Only now do I see it
I know I don't need it, no
I pay them no mind
Blood thirsty bastards making plans for no one
But themselves
In this world of disaster
I just need someone
To myself
I don't get out so much
I don't feel the same
In these bones anymore
My heels are all worn down
My loyalties are torn
I'm finding different paths now
I never saw before
And it hurts less every day
The paths lead me away
Lead me away from those
Blood Thirsty Bastards
Making plans for no one
But themselves
In this world of disaster
I just need someone
For myself
All the sycophants and vampires
Well I packed them off to hell
Oh I've been up for days now
I hope no one can tell
I do my bit oh yes
To cleanse my hands from lies
I'm feeding up the zombies
Hatched from their own eyes
And from these eyes
The weary eyes-cum shadows
Of a very different man
Blood thirsty bastards making plans for no one
but their own
I got to be my own master
get away from these braggards, tricksters, foolish clones
Oh look at how they laugh at you now
What did you do to make this bad become true
For heavens sake
such a silly mistake
You're a legend in your mind
But a rumor in your room
They all followed me down here
To an alleys dirty end
Oh I had nothing to give them
I just thought they were my friends
Doesn't matter now
I'm angry anyhow
So its the best way I can deal with
Blood thirsty bastards
making plans for no one
But their kind
Only now do I see it
I know I don't need it, no
I pay them no mind
Blood thirsty bastards making plans for no one
But themselves
In this world of disaster
I just need someone
To myself
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I guess this song is about people being selfish, just caring about themselves and being self obsessed. 'All the sycophants and vampires' self-seekers who attempt to win favor by flattering people. 'You’re a legend in your mind But a rumour in your room' I like this line, as it describes how a person might see themselves, but not how other people see them. Blood thirsty bastards could represent people alwasy wanting more and not being satisfied with what they have because they cant see past their own selfishness.