"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 lived a little beyond my means
I heard a riddle I answered in my dreams
but I don't know what's left to do now
phone keeps on stinging
collectors on the call
my bells aren't ringing I tell them tales tall
my attention was never paid in full
it's the last drop down the drain
hands on the wheel
of the vehicle that caused my distress
confounded interest
a kiss said I should steal this opportunity
to ingest these liquid assets
so here's to the last drop down the drain
since the beginning we were living check to cheek
now every moment's spent to get us through the week
our stocks are stones and our only bonds are that which keep together
these days don't pay and if you can't make change than this is your forever
I lived a little beyond my means
there's grace for saving but never time it seems
so let's go on running empty
it's the last drop down the drain
beyond my means
I heard a riddle I answered in my dreams
but I don't know what's left to do now
phone keeps on stinging
collectors on the call
my bells aren't ringing I tell them tales tall
my attention was never paid in full
it's the last drop down the drain
hands on the wheel
of the vehicle that caused my distress
confounded interest
a kiss said I should steal this opportunity
to ingest these liquid assets
so here's to the last drop down the drain
since the beginning we were living check to cheek
now every moment's spent to get us through the week
our stocks are stones and our only bonds are that which keep together
these days don't pay and if you can't make change than this is your forever
I lived a little beyond my means
there's grace for saving but never time it seems
so let's go on running empty
it's the last drop down the drain
beyond my means
Lyrics submitted by BeautifulDisaster
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Fast Car
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