"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.
It was the politics of passing out,
and other things I thought about.
Wondering if, and despairing of when,
you and I might meet again.
I made up lines, I saved up quotes,
I swam through schemes, I burned with hope,
waiting for the moment when
any of this might matter again.
We must burn, but burn joyfully, and give off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.
With dreams so strange and insistent,
it's no wonder I go around kicking things
While I was drunk, I dreamt I could fly.
I never dreamt things would go bad between you and I.
We burned joyfully and gave off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.
So take it on the chin, spit teeth, shut up, and sing.
Like the veins in my arms, like the tattoos on your skin.
Night upon night, blank cassettes and cigarettes.
Like lilacs off the tongue, this was supposed to be fun.
It was the politics of hanging out
that made me feel so dumb about
Going to shows, or even answering the phone.
I ended up hanging out all alone
and burning joyfully, and giving off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.
So take it on the chin, spit teeth, shut up, and sing.
Like the veins in my arms, like the tattoos on your skin.
Night upon night, blank cassettes and cigarettes.
Like lilacs off the tongue, this was supposed to be fun.
That night, it was no sin, blank looks and cigarettes,
like the scars on my arms, like the heat beneath your skin,
fight upon fight, busted lips and cigarettes,
like curses off the tongue, we're not supposed to be so dumb.
I wish we weren't so dumb.
We must burn, but burn joyfully, and give off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.
Or maybe just tonight.
and other things I thought about.
Wondering if, and despairing of when,
you and I might meet again.
I made up lines, I saved up quotes,
I swam through schemes, I burned with hope,
waiting for the moment when
any of this might matter again.
We must burn, but burn joyfully, and give off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.
With dreams so strange and insistent,
it's no wonder I go around kicking things
While I was drunk, I dreamt I could fly.
I never dreamt things would go bad between you and I.
We burned joyfully and gave off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.
So take it on the chin, spit teeth, shut up, and sing.
Like the veins in my arms, like the tattoos on your skin.
Night upon night, blank cassettes and cigarettes.
Like lilacs off the tongue, this was supposed to be fun.
It was the politics of hanging out
that made me feel so dumb about
Going to shows, or even answering the phone.
I ended up hanging out all alone
and burning joyfully, and giving off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.
So take it on the chin, spit teeth, shut up, and sing.
Like the veins in my arms, like the tattoos on your skin.
Night upon night, blank cassettes and cigarettes.
Like lilacs off the tongue, this was supposed to be fun.
That night, it was no sin, blank looks and cigarettes,
like the scars on my arms, like the heat beneath your skin,
fight upon fight, busted lips and cigarettes,
like curses off the tongue, we're not supposed to be so dumb.
I wish we weren't so dumb.
We must burn, but burn joyfully, and give off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.
Or maybe just tonight.
Lyrics submitted by Krakshot
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