"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.
you were just swinging like a dime
posing with no reason and no rhyme
did you help me find the long way home?
sing me songs that I did not know?
Id been waking up for quite some time
workers breaking pavement outside
then one day at the bus stop getting high
all legs and all hair dye
this is where I realize
my trouble comes with bluest eyes
now when I walk in the room you know its all I can do
to stare at the floor and not to look at you
what do you think I am leaning on the wall?
what do you think I am, or do you think at all?
this is where I realize
my trouble comes with bluest eyes
now when I walk in the room you know its all I can do
to stare at the floor and not to look at you
I flavor to taste because taste is free
there are so few things between the rent and me
you were standing outside of the lines
you were just swinging like a dime
you were something of a charity
and I wanted you to give some to me
but what do you think I am, the smoke in your clothes?
what do you think I am, or do you think at all?
posing with no reason and no rhyme
did you help me find the long way home?
sing me songs that I did not know?
Id been waking up for quite some time
workers breaking pavement outside
then one day at the bus stop getting high
all legs and all hair dye
this is where I realize
my trouble comes with bluest eyes
now when I walk in the room you know its all I can do
to stare at the floor and not to look at you
what do you think I am leaning on the wall?
what do you think I am, or do you think at all?
this is where I realize
my trouble comes with bluest eyes
now when I walk in the room you know its all I can do
to stare at the floor and not to look at you
I flavor to taste because taste is free
there are so few things between the rent and me
you were standing outside of the lines
you were just swinging like a dime
you were something of a charity
and I wanted you to give some to me
but what do you think I am, the smoke in your clothes?
what do you think I am, or do you think at all?
Lyrics submitted by McWatt
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