"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.
Oh, I thought you learned your lesson, Caroline
Now you're slipping on this black ice
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
Breathing through your mouth is like a parasite
Slip inside like mice in the mall
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? God damn, this little trip you're on)
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? You're having so much fun)
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? I'm just a preacher's son)
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this?)
All the yellow tears are speaking, Caroline
They all want your body on ice
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? God damn, this little trip you're on)
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? You're having so much fun)
Running round the world, you know you're running
Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? I'm just a preacher's son)
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this?)
Stoned, awake, alone, a letter in your lap
You've got your father's eyes
Awake and black, a tear in your glass
You miss your mother's roots
Take a breathe, a bottled halo will always
Drag you down, will drag you down
Don't you love this trip you're on?
Everything will soon be done
Now you're slipping on this black ice
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
Breathing through your mouth is like a parasite
Slip inside like mice in the mall
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? God damn, this little trip you're on)
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? You're having so much fun)
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? I'm just a preacher's son)
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this?)
All the yellow tears are speaking, Caroline
They all want your body on ice
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? God damn, this little trip you're on)
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? You're having so much fun)
Running round the world, you know you're running
Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this? I'm just a preacher's son)
Running 'round the world, you know you're running
'Round the world on borrowed legs
(Don't you love this?)
Stoned, awake, alone, a letter in your lap
You've got your father's eyes
Awake and black, a tear in your glass
You miss your mother's roots
Take a breathe, a bottled halo will always
Drag you down, will drag you down
Don't you love this trip you're on?
Everything will soon be done
Lyrics submitted by theredcliche
Borrowed Legs Lyrics as written by Michael L. Shepard
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I interpreted the song as this:
Her parents gave her her life, her genes, her body, and in particular, her legs. With the life they gave her, she's out living a meaningless life, and she's setting herself up to be alone with only memories of her parents.