"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.
Come here as a stranger
Come here to complain
Bring your faintest memory
I'll make it clear again
And I will confess it's much harder than I ever thought
Talk about the wheather
Tell me, how's your mam?
Talk about just anything
I'll listen to it all
Now we'll be there
You decide to come around
It's wishful thinking
Why don't you come back and tear me apart?
Why won't you blame me for me for breaking your heart?
One of us cracking apart, take it that would be me, obviously
It's not that I adore you
In fact I don't even know you
It's just that I want something back for what I've been through
And I'll still be there when you decide to try me out
What are you thinking?
Why don't you come back and tear me apart?
Why won't you blame me for me for breaking your heart?
One of us laughing, and I'm pretty sure it's not me, obviously
If this is what you want
If this is how you want to play
Run away, ignoring me, don't want to see me cry
Don't wake me, make me
Track you down, all over town, till I drop
I wouldn't give up, till you
Till you make me feel alive
Alright, now you really got me
Why don't you come back and tear me apart?
Why won't you blame me for me for breaking your heart?
What if I gave you back everything you've left behind?
Would you stop wasting my time?
Come here to complain
Bring your faintest memory
I'll make it clear again
And I will confess it's much harder than I ever thought
Talk about the wheather
Tell me, how's your mam?
Talk about just anything
I'll listen to it all
Now we'll be there
You decide to come around
It's wishful thinking
Why don't you come back and tear me apart?
Why won't you blame me for me for breaking your heart?
One of us cracking apart, take it that would be me, obviously
It's not that I adore you
In fact I don't even know you
It's just that I want something back for what I've been through
And I'll still be there when you decide to try me out
What are you thinking?
Why don't you come back and tear me apart?
Why won't you blame me for me for breaking your heart?
One of us laughing, and I'm pretty sure it's not me, obviously
If this is what you want
If this is how you want to play
Run away, ignoring me, don't want to see me cry
Don't wake me, make me
Track you down, all over town, till I drop
I wouldn't give up, till you
Till you make me feel alive
Alright, now you really got me
Why don't you come back and tear me apart?
Why won't you blame me for me for breaking your heart?
What if I gave you back everything you've left behind?
Would you stop wasting my time?
Lyrics submitted by Rut
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