"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 was standing there crying in the kitchen
It's been one of those mornings that's gonna last all day
And he comes in, wraps his arms around me
And I don't even have to say a thing
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
He comes in, slams the door behind him
And he can't hide the worry on his face
Even though I got a million things to tell him
I know right now he just needs some space
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
Everybody always sings about it
How they're never gonna live without it
We don't even have to talk about it
'Cause we're livin' it out
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
It's been one of those mornings that's gonna last all day
And he comes in, wraps his arms around me
And I don't even have to say a thing
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
He comes in, slams the door behind him
And he can't hide the worry on his face
Even though I got a million things to tell him
I know right now he just needs some space
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
Everybody always sings about it
How they're never gonna live without it
We don't even have to talk about it
'Cause we're livin' it out
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
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Fast Car
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I absolutely LOVE this song. What's wonderful about it is that although the verses are obviously specific circumstances that she has been through or whatever, the general idea of the situations are relatable, and the chorus ties it all together by saying that every unspoken moment of understanding and companionship that you share together... THAT'S what makes you 'in love.' The simplicity of the chorus is just genius, in my opinion, because it says so perfectly what many people spend their whole lives just trying to say to each other. Love isn't always about the huge romantic gestures or the three big words or anything; sometimes it's just about being there for someone when they need you, and knowing when to give them their space when they need that too. But my favourite thing about this song is the way I imagine her having written this. Now I'm probably completely wrong, but in my mind, it's almost like she sat down and wanted to write a song about someone she loved, but she couldn't quite find the words to say how she felt, so she kept walking away from it and coming back to it and thinking about it and maybe even overthinking it, until eventually one day she just kind of gave up. The song almost seems like a surrender to me; as though she has nothing to explain why she loves him, except for the little moments that pass between them, and THAT's what makes it a love song. I think it's adorable :)