"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.
[Part 1: The Darkness]
It's everywhere that I go
It's everything that I see
And I don't know how to fight it
What was down is now up
And what was up has gone down
This scene has lost all its spirit
If you're not going
Every minute of every day
You'll end up somewhere behind it
Back in the day things were hard
Bus so much simpler in ways
You didn't know when to quit
Outshined by everyone around
Feeling lost and never found
Trying hard to fight the good fight
Out of the darkness and into the light
Strange things always come
When your mind is not clear
And there's no understanding
Thrown right under the bus
Throwing up all your guts
To get back to beginnings
Habits carved into stone
That you do all alone
When nobody is watching
Trying not to get caught
Fear is what you have sought
And it's too much demanding
[Part 2: Chance Meeting]
I saw you sitting with your friends that day
I tried to keep myself from staring
I found the courage but had nothing to say
My tongue was tied and I was daring
How lucky the sun came shining
You told me I was out of my mind
I said you were crazy
But it was me who was crazy
Drunk on the wine in your eyes
Our story is written across the sky
Words to last forever
And the meaning just gets clearer every day
I hope you know we share one soul
Never let go
[Part 3: On My Own]
Can you tell me?
Can you help me?
I am feeling down
Situation overload
Our ship has run aground
Waiting for the lightening strike
To come and bring me down
I talk but you don't hear a sound
It's got me so frustrated
The words have been debated
Can you give me any reason at all?
I want to know
I gotta know
I'm on my own
[Part 4: Start Over Again]
How you doin' my man?
You got anything to say?
Tell us everything
Everything you learned along the way
The crowd they love you today
Tell us everything
How you did it
How you made your way
Start over again
Feel alive come on and take it
Start over again
Feel alive come on and take it
Start over again
Come and take it
Start over again
Come on let's make it
Yeah!
It's everywhere that I go
It's everything that I see
And I don't know how to fight it
What was down is now up
And what was up has gone down
This scene has lost all its spirit
If you're not going
Every minute of every day
You'll end up somewhere behind it
Back in the day things were hard
Bus so much simpler in ways
You didn't know when to quit
Outshined by everyone around
Feeling lost and never found
Trying hard to fight the good fight
Out of the darkness and into the light
Strange things always come
When your mind is not clear
And there's no understanding
Thrown right under the bus
Throwing up all your guts
To get back to beginnings
Habits carved into stone
That you do all alone
When nobody is watching
Trying not to get caught
Fear is what you have sought
And it's too much demanding
[Part 2: Chance Meeting]
I saw you sitting with your friends that day
I tried to keep myself from staring
I found the courage but had nothing to say
My tongue was tied and I was daring
How lucky the sun came shining
You told me I was out of my mind
I said you were crazy
But it was me who was crazy
Drunk on the wine in your eyes
Our story is written across the sky
Words to last forever
And the meaning just gets clearer every day
I hope you know we share one soul
Never let go
[Part 3: On My Own]
Can you tell me?
Can you help me?
I am feeling down
Situation overload
Our ship has run aground
Waiting for the lightening strike
To come and bring me down
I talk but you don't hear a sound
It's got me so frustrated
The words have been debated
Can you give me any reason at all?
I want to know
I gotta know
I'm on my own
[Part 4: Start Over Again]
How you doin' my man?
You got anything to say?
Tell us everything
Everything you learned along the way
The crowd they love you today
Tell us everything
How you did it
How you made your way
Start over again
Feel alive come on and take it
Start over again
Feel alive come on and take it
Start over again
Come and take it
Start over again
Come on let's make it
Yeah!
Lyrics submitted by rimastratocaster
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There are so many great moments on X CD. But i believe Part 3 of this song, On My Own, can be the best part of the whole album. Although Jaws of Heaven is a brilliant and wonderful song too.