"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.
If you go
far away
I would grow
sails or wings
to cross the deep
above or underneath
If the eastern winds
blow kind across
the empty space
between my arms
I'll make believe them
feathers to
be light enough
to fly to you
And if no vessel
roams that way,
I could set out
on sails and dreams
to cross the deep
on frail winds of sleep
and air
and gather you there
For the sight of water
has me long
to be swallowed up
and sailed out
in the body of
a whale to
be fast enough
to sail to you
far away
I would grow
sails or wings
to cross the deep
above or underneath
If the eastern winds
blow kind across
the empty space
between my arms
I'll make believe them
feathers to
be light enough
to fly to you
And if no vessel
roams that way,
I could set out
on sails and dreams
to cross the deep
on frail winds of sleep
and air
and gather you there
For the sight of water
has me long
to be swallowed up
and sailed out
in the body of
a whale to
be fast enough
to sail to you
Lyrics submitted by oeheaven
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Fast Car
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amazing...
This song seems pretty straight-forward in its lyrics, But this is what I got out of it.
The song is about a special someone to the person singing this song. He will try anything to find and be with the one he loves.
The eastern winds, vessel, water, and whale are symbolism for obstacles he is willing to overcome to be able to find his love. He will try to get past these, even if it leads to his death.
Sounds like true dedication to me. Wonderful, yet simple, song.