"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.
Looking up, up
Up for love, finally
(Hey, hey)
Down in the foundry we forge for us the changing bell
Turn your back against the wind
Spit down the wishing well
With nothing left to waste but opportunity
To be the lovers we have longed to be
Now things are looking up, up, up for you
Looking up, up, up for me
Looking up, up, up for us
Finally
We cross the border line
To wake the sleep of color under wind turbines
Look at the resting of the old machinery
Rusting away a part of history
Now things are looking up, up, up for you
Looking up, up, up for me
Looking up, up, up for us (hey)
Finally, we cross the border line
What brings you joy, will take your tears
You've been holding back too many years
But you were down and out of luck
Now side by side, we're looking up
Finally
Looking up, up, up for you
Looking up, up, up for me
Looking up, up, up for us
Time to ring that changing bell
Up for love, finally
(Hey, hey)
Down in the foundry we forge for us the changing bell
Turn your back against the wind
Spit down the wishing well
With nothing left to waste but opportunity
To be the lovers we have longed to be
Now things are looking up, up, up for you
Looking up, up, up for me
Looking up, up, up for us
Finally
We cross the border line
To wake the sleep of color under wind turbines
Look at the resting of the old machinery
Rusting away a part of history
Now things are looking up, up, up for you
Looking up, up, up for me
Looking up, up, up for us (hey)
Finally, we cross the border line
What brings you joy, will take your tears
You've been holding back too many years
But you were down and out of luck
Now side by side, we're looking up
Finally
Looking up, up, up for you
Looking up, up, up for me
Looking up, up, up for us
Time to ring that changing bell
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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Ed Sheeran
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Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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