"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 said I'm wise, but I'm not so sure
Maybe my lies were just that good
And my lonely tears wish never to be
Puddled on the floor with just them and me
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
There's truth in these eyes, you can rest assured
Salvaged by voices that have no words
Running with fear left ruin in its wake
Is the measure of a man how much love he can fake?
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
Oh, time, it is so hard
With all your fears and your running around
We sadly burn down what we had
It happens so long
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
Maybe my lies were just that good
And my lonely tears wish never to be
Puddled on the floor with just them and me
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
There's truth in these eyes, you can rest assured
Salvaged by voices that have no words
Running with fear left ruin in its wake
Is the measure of a man how much love he can fake?
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
Oh, time, it is so hard
With all your fears and your running around
We sadly burn down what we had
It happens so long
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
It's a long life, a long life to be always longing
Lyrics submitted by HughLloyd
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This song speaks to me because of a personal situation, so of course it's one of my favorites.