"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.
Close your eyes
Now that you're tired
I'll stay right here while you sleep
Late at night
Drift away
Far off into your slumber
And down will come baby
Cradle and all
The tigers are waiting
For you when you fall
Lay so still
There in the dark
The beasts will
Look you over
Eyes glow bright
Jaws open wide
There are no cheap circus tricks
They'll pick you up
By the skin of your neck
And gently remove you from danger
Then tigers you'll ride
At the head of the pride
All the way through until morning
And up will ride baby
On the backs of the kings
In the jungles of dreamland
You're safe from wild things
The tigers are waiting
With their vigilant light
Ever scanning the darkness
For beasts who could bite
With one tiny growl
You're at the edge of the clouds
Ready to make your way homeward
When you arise
The sun hits your eyes
Waving goodbye to your watchers
And up will rise baby
Still tucked up so tight
From the jungles of dreamland
To the shores of daylight
And down we'll come baby
Back into your bed
The tigers still waiting
For when you lay your sweet head
Now that you're tired
I'll stay right here while you sleep
Late at night
Drift away
Far off into your slumber
And down will come baby
Cradle and all
The tigers are waiting
For you when you fall
Lay so still
There in the dark
The beasts will
Look you over
Eyes glow bright
Jaws open wide
There are no cheap circus tricks
They'll pick you up
By the skin of your neck
And gently remove you from danger
Then tigers you'll ride
At the head of the pride
All the way through until morning
And up will ride baby
On the backs of the kings
In the jungles of dreamland
You're safe from wild things
The tigers are waiting
With their vigilant light
Ever scanning the darkness
For beasts who could bite
With one tiny growl
You're at the edge of the clouds
Ready to make your way homeward
When you arise
The sun hits your eyes
Waving goodbye to your watchers
And up will rise baby
Still tucked up so tight
From the jungles of dreamland
To the shores of daylight
And down we'll come baby
Back into your bed
The tigers still waiting
For when you lay your sweet head
Lyrics submitted by blood is thin
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