"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.
We're all just pretending we got what we wanted from decisions that we have made
But upon further inspection, you got what you need
No Matter how far we get.
How's it feel to settle for the white picket fence and lose it all be cause it never was a safe bet.
Just give it up this repetition is drowning, these people need air
Another lie they're not waving at you they're struggling, nobody cares.
Just give it up your best attire is choking these people need air.
You can lie to me but a sheep in wolves' clothing will still get sheared
With all the right words and all the nice things you'll continue smiling and you'll fool us all.
What's it take, It takes a better drug, a bittersweet goodbye, you're slowly dying and you fool yourself
Count me out.
But upon further inspection, you got what you need
No Matter how far we get.
How's it feel to settle for the white picket fence and lose it all be cause it never was a safe bet.
Just give it up this repetition is drowning, these people need air
Another lie they're not waving at you they're struggling, nobody cares.
Just give it up your best attire is choking these people need air.
You can lie to me but a sheep in wolves' clothing will still get sheared
With all the right words and all the nice things you'll continue smiling and you'll fool us all.
What's it take, It takes a better drug, a bittersweet goodbye, you're slowly dying and you fool yourself
Count me out.
Lyrics submitted by jpatj
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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"How's it feel to settle for the white picket fence and lose it all be cause it never was a safe bet."
The "white picket fence" usually symbolizes a so called american dream, high socio economic status or in a way selling out or settling for something.
I think this song may be about someone or a bunch of people who may have settled for something big they may not have wanted. Maybe selling out to a big label or something and in the end it did not turn out as expected.
I could be WAY off though hah.