"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've run from these feelings for so long
telling my heart I didn't need you
pretending I was better off alone
but I know that it's just a lie
so afraid to take a chance again
so afraid of what I'd feel inside
but I need to be next to you (need to be next to you)
oh I, oh I
I need to share every breath with you (share every breath with you)
oh I, oh I
I need to know I can see you smiling each morning
look into your eyes each night
for the rest of my life
here with you, near with you
oh I
I need to be next to you
need to be next to you
right here with you is right where I belong
I'll lose my mind if I can't see you
without you there is nothing in this life
that would make life worth living for
I can't bear the thought of you not there
I can't fight what I feel anymore
'cause I need to be next to you (need to be next to you)
oh I, oh I
I need to share every breath with you (share every breath with you)
oh I, oh I
I need to know I can see you smiling each morning
look into your eyes each night
for the rest of my life
here with you, near with you
oh I
I need to be next to you
I need to have your heart next to mine
for all the time
hold you for all my life
I need to be next to you
I need to be next to you (to be next to you)
oh I, oh I
need to be, need to be next to you
share every breath with you
oh, oh I
I need to feel you in my arms, babe (oh...)
in my arms, babe (oh I...)
I need to be next to you
oh I, oh I
(oh I...)
telling my heart I didn't need you
pretending I was better off alone
but I know that it's just a lie
so afraid to take a chance again
so afraid of what I'd feel inside
but I need to be next to you (need to be next to you)
oh I, oh I
I need to share every breath with you (share every breath with you)
oh I, oh I
I need to know I can see you smiling each morning
look into your eyes each night
for the rest of my life
here with you, near with you
oh I
I need to be next to you
need to be next to you
right here with you is right where I belong
I'll lose my mind if I can't see you
without you there is nothing in this life
that would make life worth living for
I can't bear the thought of you not there
I can't fight what I feel anymore
'cause I need to be next to you (need to be next to you)
oh I, oh I
I need to share every breath with you (share every breath with you)
oh I, oh I
I need to know I can see you smiling each morning
look into your eyes each night
for the rest of my life
here with you, near with you
oh I
I need to be next to you
I need to have your heart next to mine
for all the time
hold you for all my life
I need to be next to you
I need to be next to you (to be next to you)
oh I, oh I
need to be, need to be next to you
share every breath with you
oh, oh I
I need to feel you in my arms, babe (oh...)
in my arms, babe (oh I...)
I need to be next to you
oh I, oh I
(oh I...)
Lyrics submitted by AshleyRose
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