"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.
Enter ye at the straight gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.
Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
Not every one that saith unto me, "Lord, Lord!" shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
Many will say to me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?"
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
And then will I profess unto them, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall.
Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
Not every one that saith unto me, "Lord, Lord!" shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
Many will say to me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?"
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
And then will I profess unto them, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.
(Lord, Lord, We Are)
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall.
Lyrics submitted by Desper
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Fast Car
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I love this song! Reminds me of Salmarnir by Underoath.