"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.
I waited by the willow tree
Outside your parents house last night
Girl you know I warned you
Summer's coming soon
If you're gonna make a move
You better make your move
Because you know that in a week or two
I'll be miles away from you
On the California coast
But you know the thing i'll miss the most is you
Girl do you remember that time
I held both your hands in mine
And we watched the stars come out that night
You said that your heart could
Hardly take the moons reflection on the glossy lake
And I just whispered "I love you"
But you know that in a week or two
I'll be miles away from you
On the California coast
But you know the thing i'll miss the most is
If you miss me so much
That you can barely stand it
And your heart can hardly take
You know i'm never more than a phone call away
I won't hesitate to answer my phone
When your name shows up on my caller i.d
But you know i can't stay
Because summer is calling me
Calling me
Because you know that in a week or two
I'll be miles away from you
On the California coast
But you know the thing i'll miss the most is you
Outside your parents house last night
Girl you know I warned you
Summer's coming soon
If you're gonna make a move
You better make your move
Because you know that in a week or two
I'll be miles away from you
On the California coast
But you know the thing i'll miss the most is you
Girl do you remember that time
I held both your hands in mine
And we watched the stars come out that night
You said that your heart could
Hardly take the moons reflection on the glossy lake
And I just whispered "I love you"
But you know that in a week or two
I'll be miles away from you
On the California coast
But you know the thing i'll miss the most is
If you miss me so much
That you can barely stand it
And your heart can hardly take
You know i'm never more than a phone call away
I won't hesitate to answer my phone
When your name shows up on my caller i.d
But you know i can't stay
Because summer is calling me
Calling me
Because you know that in a week or two
I'll be miles away from you
On the California coast
But you know the thing i'll miss the most is you
Lyrics submitted by IA3000
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