"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.
People in traffic
It's not a keen sight,
And we're in the middle
Travelin' light
If the traffic train jams
You must look around
It's a weird old movie
And we make the sound
Cars on the highway
Nailed to the road
And people gettin' nervous
Like on a sinking boat
Alone in their wagons
Alone on their trips
Acting like sleepers
Cows get more kicks
Once they start movin'
Don't think they'll relive
Their anger is risin'
And they're ready to twist
For less than an inch
Or less than a hair
Their looks could lynch you
So full of despair
People in traffic
It's not a keen sight
But we're in the middle
Travelin' light
Fighting our laugh kicks
Seven in one car
Bass, snare and horns
And I play my space guitar
It's not a keen sight,
And we're in the middle
Travelin' light
If the traffic train jams
You must look around
It's a weird old movie
And we make the sound
Cars on the highway
Nailed to the road
And people gettin' nervous
Like on a sinking boat
Alone in their wagons
Alone on their trips
Acting like sleepers
Cows get more kicks
Once they start movin'
Don't think they'll relive
Their anger is risin'
And they're ready to twist
For less than an inch
Or less than a hair
Their looks could lynch you
So full of despair
People in traffic
It's not a keen sight
But we're in the middle
Travelin' light
Fighting our laugh kicks
Seven in one car
Bass, snare and horns
And I play my space guitar
Lyrics submitted by BleedorBreathe
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