"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.
There were times when I heard some naughty ghost
Whispering “he died” in my ear
And leading the wind so solemnly
I searched for you through the waves.
Well, maybe I was confused: you were
Sleeping at your girlfriend’s home again.
Sparing angels’ sighing songs we grew up, but whose blame?
They will open the door one more time,
To introduce another one dressed
In your summer pants and shirt
And silently I’ll share his stunned point of view
Without protests.
That young silver day shows now no menace at all.
Was it so far, two minutes ago?
You don’t have to come home this time:
The sun, with your voice, is walking away.
Delighted, it’s finally free.
Whispering “he died” in my ear
And leading the wind so solemnly
I searched for you through the waves.
Well, maybe I was confused: you were
Sleeping at your girlfriend’s home again.
Sparing angels’ sighing songs we grew up, but whose blame?
They will open the door one more time,
To introduce another one dressed
In your summer pants and shirt
And silently I’ll share his stunned point of view
Without protests.
That young silver day shows now no menace at all.
Was it so far, two minutes ago?
You don’t have to come home this time:
The sun, with your voice, is walking away.
Delighted, it’s finally free.
Lyrics submitted by denismos
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