"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.
Sit down, I've got a story to tell you
Dare you to guess how it ends
Notice the lack of my expression
As blood and ether blend
Do you know how it feels to get cut down?
Do you know? Do you know? Do you know?
How far do you want to go over?
How far do you want to take all of this?
How far do you want to go over?
Lead me into this conversation
Tell us what you have to say
You'll be great for my collection
Sister, this all ends today
Do you know how it feels to get cut down?
Do you know? Do you know? Do you know?
How far do you want to go over?
How far do you want to take all of this?
How far do you want to go over?
How far do you want to go over?
How far do you want to take all of this?
How far do you want to go over?
And I'll take you to the end
Where the branches meet the sky
And I'll tell you that I always loved you
Then I'll show you why
Don't take me on
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
How far do you want to go over?
(Sit down, sit down, sit down)
How far do you want to take all of this?
(Sit down, sit down, sit down)
How far do you want to go over?
(Sit down, sit down, sit down)
Sit down, sit down, sit down
I've got a story to tell you
(Sit down, you're falling off the map today.)
Dare you to guess how it ends
(Sit down, you're falling off the map today.)
Sit down, I've got a story to tell you
Dare you to guess how it ends
(Sit down, you're falling off the map today.)
Dare you to guess how it ends
Notice the lack of my expression
As blood and ether blend
Do you know how it feels to get cut down?
Do you know? Do you know? Do you know?
How far do you want to go over?
How far do you want to take all of this?
How far do you want to go over?
Lead me into this conversation
Tell us what you have to say
You'll be great for my collection
Sister, this all ends today
Do you know how it feels to get cut down?
Do you know? Do you know? Do you know?
How far do you want to go over?
How far do you want to take all of this?
How far do you want to go over?
How far do you want to go over?
How far do you want to take all of this?
How far do you want to go over?
And I'll take you to the end
Where the branches meet the sky
And I'll tell you that I always loved you
Then I'll show you why
Don't take me on
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
How far do you want to go over?
(Sit down, sit down, sit down)
How far do you want to take all of this?
(Sit down, sit down, sit down)
How far do you want to go over?
(Sit down, sit down, sit down)
Sit down, sit down, sit down
I've got a story to tell you
(Sit down, you're falling off the map today.)
Dare you to guess how it ends
(Sit down, you're falling off the map today.)
Sit down, I've got a story to tell you
Dare you to guess how it ends
(Sit down, you're falling off the map today.)
Lyrics submitted by andreaaaa
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