"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.
Attitude is my addiction
I live life with no regret
Unlike you it's my conviction
That sets me apart from the rest
I live for competition
Your cynicism only makes me stronger
I am the culmination
Setting the standard that all will follow
I live it every day
Don't know another way
Within my eyes there's devastation and fury
You can't understand
In my fight
Win by attrition I bring it with all that I fucking am
You never dealt with such rejection
Licking your wounds that won't fucking heal
You've never seen so much aggression
I am the scream to your fucking silence
I live it every day
Don't know another way
Attitude is my addiction
I live life with no regret
Unlike you it's my affliction
That creates the template of all that I am
You know and I know
No matter what you say
You'll be beaten today
Like every other day
Something about you
Keeps you from letting go
Of lame obsessions
Built up inside you
Forget the guesswork
You're starting at the source
Gazing into my eyes
You'll see there's no remorse
'Cause this is my war
All day and every day
It's all about the conflict
Yeah!
Bring on the competition
Your pessimism only makes me stronger
I am the culmination
The fucking standard that all will follow
I live it everyday
Don't know another way
I live life with no regret
Unlike you it's my conviction
That sets me apart from the rest
I live for competition
Your cynicism only makes me stronger
I am the culmination
Setting the standard that all will follow
I live it every day
Don't know another way
Within my eyes there's devastation and fury
You can't understand
In my fight
Win by attrition I bring it with all that I fucking am
You never dealt with such rejection
Licking your wounds that won't fucking heal
You've never seen so much aggression
I am the scream to your fucking silence
I live it every day
Don't know another way
Attitude is my addiction
I live life with no regret
Unlike you it's my affliction
That creates the template of all that I am
You know and I know
No matter what you say
You'll be beaten today
Like every other day
Something about you
Keeps you from letting go
Of lame obsessions
Built up inside you
Forget the guesswork
You're starting at the source
Gazing into my eyes
You'll see there's no remorse
'Cause this is my war
All day and every day
It's all about the conflict
Yeah!
Bring on the competition
Your pessimism only makes me stronger
I am the culmination
The fucking standard that all will follow
I live it everyday
Don't know another way
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While I agree with Ddadutta, that it is similar in style to "Here comes the pain", it reminds me more of warzone, the idea that you are just a total onslaught of agression and will.