"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.
Yeah, I could go outside today but I won't' cause I won't.
Yeah, I could look alive today but I won't cause I won't.
But somewhere on the radio could you hear me? Can you heal me?
Somewhere on the radio can you hear me 'cause I'm Screamin' screamin'...
When I don't want to miss you anymore.
No, I don't want to miss you anymore.
Or the lines on your face or the things I can't change
No I don't want to miss them anymore
'Cause today is the first time, the first in a long time, where i've felt the need to hold on.
And I'll be damned if you take this, this day that i've made, and make it where I shouldn't be strong.
I would have murdered for it
I'll put words to this
When it hurts a bit
Then I thank god for this...
Yeah, I could go to town today
But I won't, cause I won't
Yeah, I could play the clown today,
But I won't, cause I won't
When somewhere in the place I love
Does he hold you? like I used to?
As you stare at his microphone do you choke and then
call out my name?
Screamin'...
And somewhere on the radio can you hear me? Could you heal me?
And somewhere on the radio did you hear me? Can you heal me?
Yes, somewhere on the radio can you hear me? Can you heal me?
Somewhere out there where the fiddles play could you hear me? Can you heal me?
Yeah, I could look alive today but I won't cause I won't.
But somewhere on the radio could you hear me? Can you heal me?
Somewhere on the radio can you hear me 'cause I'm Screamin' screamin'...
When I don't want to miss you anymore.
No, I don't want to miss you anymore.
Or the lines on your face or the things I can't change
No I don't want to miss them anymore
'Cause today is the first time, the first in a long time, where i've felt the need to hold on.
And I'll be damned if you take this, this day that i've made, and make it where I shouldn't be strong.
I would have murdered for it
I'll put words to this
When it hurts a bit
Then I thank god for this...
Yeah, I could go to town today
But I won't, cause I won't
Yeah, I could play the clown today,
But I won't, cause I won't
When somewhere in the place I love
Does he hold you? like I used to?
As you stare at his microphone do you choke and then
call out my name?
Screamin'...
And somewhere on the radio can you hear me? Could you heal me?
And somewhere on the radio did you hear me? Can you heal me?
Yes, somewhere on the radio can you hear me? Can you heal me?
Somewhere out there where the fiddles play could you hear me? Can you heal me?
Lyrics submitted by Pentagrammaton
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i am going to have to disagree, Highly. this song seems to be about him hearing his music on the radio and it making him feel stronger for the first time since he lost the woman he loved. he says he doesn't want to miss her anymore. he doesnt want her to take away this feeling of worth he gets from his music. maybe if she hears him on the radio, she will come backto him and "heal" him