"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.
I woke up to a drive-thru
Had to hitch a ride to get myself fed
It was late but I know it’s never to late to call you
You’re a good friend with a bad tendency to get in over your head
Don’t you, don’t you fall asleep
(Gonna get us both killed, driving late to Coatesville)
I swear I’ll make it back some day
I swear I’ll make it back
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out
I woke up on a greyhound to a new town
Then again I was here a month ago
It was your birthday
It fell on a Friday
And I should’ve been there
For that I’m sorry
Regardless
Don’t you, don’t you fall asleep
(Gonna get us both killed, driving late to Coatesville)
I swear I’ll make it back some day
Someday
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out
We hit the ice
Just before the telephone pole
We hit the brakes
But there was no escape
We hit the ice
And I see a car in your future
They stitch and they sew and they suture
But this day will scar
Right now we know how lucky we are
Don’t you fall asleep (We know how lucky we are)
Don’t you fall asleep (I swear I’ll make it back)
Get out, get out
Get out, get out
I swear I’ll make it back some day (get out, get out)
I swear I’ll make it back some day (get out, get out)
I swear I’ll make it back some day (get out, get out)
I swear I’ll make it back (get out, get out)
Get out, get out,
Get out, you’re not driving
Get out, get out
No, not in the state you’re in
Get out, get out
Get out, you’re not driving
Get out, get out, get out, get out, get out
Had to hitch a ride to get myself fed
It was late but I know it’s never to late to call you
You’re a good friend with a bad tendency to get in over your head
Don’t you, don’t you fall asleep
(Gonna get us both killed, driving late to Coatesville)
I swear I’ll make it back some day
I swear I’ll make it back
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out
I woke up on a greyhound to a new town
Then again I was here a month ago
It was your birthday
It fell on a Friday
And I should’ve been there
For that I’m sorry
Regardless
Don’t you, don’t you fall asleep
(Gonna get us both killed, driving late to Coatesville)
I swear I’ll make it back some day
Someday
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out, get out
You’re not driving
Get out, get out
We hit the ice
Just before the telephone pole
We hit the brakes
But there was no escape
We hit the ice
And I see a car in your future
They stitch and they sew and they suture
But this day will scar
Right now we know how lucky we are
Don’t you fall asleep (We know how lucky we are)
Don’t you fall asleep (I swear I’ll make it back)
Get out, get out
Get out, get out
I swear I’ll make it back some day (get out, get out)
I swear I’ll make it back some day (get out, get out)
I swear I’ll make it back some day (get out, get out)
I swear I’ll make it back (get out, get out)
Get out, get out,
Get out, you’re not driving
Get out, get out
No, not in the state you’re in
Get out, get out
Get out, you’re not driving
Get out, get out, get out, get out, get out
Lyrics submitted by mandy9876
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Fast Car
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This is what tbsunion.com/thecolorfred has posted. It sounds right:
I woke up to a drive-thru Had to hitch a ride to get myself feed It was late but I know it’s never to late to call you You’re a good friend with a bad tendency to get in over your head Don’t you, don’t you fall asleep (Gonna get us both killed, driving late to Coatesville) I swear I’ll make it back some day I swear I’ll make it back
Get out, get out, get out You’re not driving Get out, get out, get out You’re not driving Get out, get out, get out You’re not driving Get out, get out
I woke up on a greyhound to a new town Then again I was here a month ago It was your birthday It fell on a Friday And I should’ve been there For that I’m sorry Reguardless
Don’t you, don’t you fall asleep (Gonna get us both killed, driving late to Coatesville) I swear I’ll make it back some day Someday
Get out, get out, get out You’re not driving Get out, get out, get out You’re not driving Get out, get out, get out You’re not driving Get out, get out
We hit the ice Just before the telephone pole We hit the brakes But there was no escape We hit the ice And I see a car in your future They stitch and they sew and they suit you But this day will scar Right now we know how lucky we are Don’t you fall asleep (We know how lucky we are) Don’t you fall asleep (I swear I’ll make it back)
Get out, get out Get out, get out I swear I’ll make it back some day (get out, get out) I swear I’ll make it back some day (get out, get out) I swear I’ll make it back some day (get out, get out) I swear I’ll make it back (get out, get out) Get out, get out, Get out, you’re not driving Get out, get out No, not in the state you’re in Get out, get out Get out, you’re not driving Get out, get out, get out, get out, get out
This song is really catchy.