"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.
Not without a purpose and it's not without a fight
I've got three tales to tell you so please sit tight
It's the story of three underdogs who've grown to see their light
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
Been away for far too long, you're on my mind
Got your picture and I stare at it all the time
Minutes turn to hours, hours into days
And as each one passes it feels all the same
But the lights they go dark, Man In Black on the P.A.
Walk up the stairs as one again to decimate the stage
Not without a purpose and it's not without a fight
Our spirit lives forever blinded by the city lights
If we keep our act together we might make another night
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
[spoken]JOHNNY RIOUX TELL THEM YOUR STORY[spoken]
Hey, I was always just another average kid
Looking up to the Pistols, idolizing Sid
I guess my parents never really felt the same
Spikes and leather jacket hurt my family name
Now I'm on the streets, now I've been locked out
Friends and punk rock music were the only way out
Started as firm believer, now I own my doubts
As it's pretty clear a civil war has broken out
A Southie iron worker leaving work behind
As W.M.D. propaganda warped my fragile mind
But now I've lived the truth, my eyes are open wide
E.T.S. to Boston leave an oil war behind
Not without a purpose and it's not without a fight
Another poor kid caught up in a fire fight
I don't believe in Jesus but I pray to God tonight
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
[spoken] THIS ONE IS FOR THE WORKING MIDDLE CLASS[/spoken]
Never give up, never give in, never walk away, always fighting
Never give up, never give in, never walk away, always fighting, always fighting, always fighting
Been away for far too long, you're on my mind
Got your picture and I stare at it all the time
Minutes turn to hours, hours into days
And as each one passes it feels all the same
Not without a purpose and it's not without a fight
Our spirit lives forever blinded by the city lights
If we keep our act together we might make another night
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
Not without a purpose and it's not without a fight
Our spirit lives forever blinded by the city lights
If we keep our act together we might make another night
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
I've got three tales to tell you so please sit tight
It's the story of three underdogs who've grown to see their light
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
Been away for far too long, you're on my mind
Got your picture and I stare at it all the time
Minutes turn to hours, hours into days
And as each one passes it feels all the same
But the lights they go dark, Man In Black on the P.A.
Walk up the stairs as one again to decimate the stage
Not without a purpose and it's not without a fight
Our spirit lives forever blinded by the city lights
If we keep our act together we might make another night
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
[spoken]JOHNNY RIOUX TELL THEM YOUR STORY[spoken]
Hey, I was always just another average kid
Looking up to the Pistols, idolizing Sid
I guess my parents never really felt the same
Spikes and leather jacket hurt my family name
Now I'm on the streets, now I've been locked out
Friends and punk rock music were the only way out
Started as firm believer, now I own my doubts
As it's pretty clear a civil war has broken out
A Southie iron worker leaving work behind
As W.M.D. propaganda warped my fragile mind
But now I've lived the truth, my eyes are open wide
E.T.S. to Boston leave an oil war behind
Not without a purpose and it's not without a fight
Another poor kid caught up in a fire fight
I don't believe in Jesus but I pray to God tonight
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
[spoken] THIS ONE IS FOR THE WORKING MIDDLE CLASS[/spoken]
Never give up, never give in, never walk away, always fighting
Never give up, never give in, never walk away, always fighting, always fighting, always fighting
Been away for far too long, you're on my mind
Got your picture and I stare at it all the time
Minutes turn to hours, hours into days
And as each one passes it feels all the same
Not without a purpose and it's not without a fight
Our spirit lives forever blinded by the city lights
If we keep our act together we might make another night
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
Not without a purpose and it's not without a fight
Our spirit lives forever blinded by the city lights
If we keep our act together we might make another night
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
Not without a purpose, not without a fight
Lyrics submitted by nsjdog
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