"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.
How can you ask for forgiveness?
So now you think that your crimes are victimless?
I know you and your sins
Your retributions
So how will you lay your penance down?
We all pay in time
So how will you clear your conscience when your clock unwinds?
I've heard enough of your forked tongue
How do you know when the cuts are deep enough?
I know you like your stabs
Your preemptive attacks
But how will you hold your demons down?
We're all judged in time
How can you seek redemption using alibis?
You oughta know better than to bait your jailer
You oughta know
You oughta know better
How do you deal with the consequence
Now that we bear the weight of your arrogance?
I know you and your cons
Your petty little bombs
But who will you blame your troubles on now?
We all pay in time
So how will you clear your conscience when your lies unwind?
You oughta know better than to bait your jailer
You oughta know better than to test your luck
You oughta know better than to bite who feeds ya
You oughta know, you oughta know better
How can you ask for forgiveness?
How can you think that your crimes are victimless?
I know you and your sins
Your retributions
So how will you lay your penance down?
We're all judged in time
So how will you clear your conscience when your lies unwind?
So now you think that your crimes are victimless?
I know you and your sins
Your retributions
So how will you lay your penance down?
We all pay in time
So how will you clear your conscience when your clock unwinds?
I've heard enough of your forked tongue
How do you know when the cuts are deep enough?
I know you like your stabs
Your preemptive attacks
But how will you hold your demons down?
We're all judged in time
How can you seek redemption using alibis?
You oughta know better than to bait your jailer
You oughta know
You oughta know better
How do you deal with the consequence
Now that we bear the weight of your arrogance?
I know you and your cons
Your petty little bombs
But who will you blame your troubles on now?
We all pay in time
So how will you clear your conscience when your lies unwind?
You oughta know better than to bait your jailer
You oughta know better than to test your luck
You oughta know better than to bite who feeds ya
You oughta know, you oughta know better
How can you ask for forgiveness?
How can you think that your crimes are victimless?
I know you and your sins
Your retributions
So how will you lay your penance down?
We're all judged in time
So how will you clear your conscience when your lies unwind?
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Fast Car
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Wow...just wow. This song is incredible. I think the meaning is obvious dont you think? :)