"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.
Mr. Brownstone sits in the titan of the ship
Meddle state he will liken to a minute
Mr. Brownstone hears the misfit
Waiting on the street where he'll be with her
Take it out to Mr. Brown
Watching to the hazy mound
Mr. Brown is waiting for some hopeful news
And Mr.'s staying waiting for the 'nother truth
In through the door enclave again
The failing to attack
The mold in place upon the corner
Whose doorways face
Mrs. Purple came from behind the door
Wearing nothing but foreign clothing
Of someone else's wardrobe
Mr. Brown screamed:
Why are you doing this to me?
It seems as if the cat went out with the mouse
And shot the dog in the fucking face
We all take something
Take something for this
Take something for that
[Backwards]
Mr. Brown, what's goin' on?
Answer, where is the answer?
People work and every day they come home to see their houses torn apart
Wake up
[Backwards]
Mr. and Mrs. Jones
Walked up to the house
Now misowned
Faltering
Foreclosed upon
Mr. and Mrs. Jones thought:
What a lovely place this is
I think we can start (a) life here
Selling...
Selling all we had
Taking up residence in this place
Where is...
The former resident(s)?
Buried underneath the carpet
There was a melted spot
A warm, dripping, cot
Gentle, warm bed
Where Mrs. Purple laid her head
And Mr. Brown...
Well, he('s) around
Meddle state he will liken to a minute
Mr. Brownstone hears the misfit
Waiting on the street where he'll be with her
Take it out to Mr. Brown
Watching to the hazy mound
Mr. Brown is waiting for some hopeful news
And Mr.'s staying waiting for the 'nother truth
In through the door enclave again
The failing to attack
The mold in place upon the corner
Whose doorways face
Mrs. Purple came from behind the door
Wearing nothing but foreign clothing
Of someone else's wardrobe
Mr. Brown screamed:
Why are you doing this to me?
It seems as if the cat went out with the mouse
And shot the dog in the fucking face
We all take something
Take something for this
Take something for that
[Backwards]
Mr. Brown, what's goin' on?
Answer, where is the answer?
People work and every day they come home to see their houses torn apart
Wake up
[Backwards]
Mr. and Mrs. Jones
Walked up to the house
Now misowned
Faltering
Foreclosed upon
Mr. and Mrs. Jones thought:
What a lovely place this is
I think we can start (a) life here
Selling...
Selling all we had
Taking up residence in this place
Where is...
The former resident(s)?
Buried underneath the carpet
There was a melted spot
A warm, dripping, cot
Gentle, warm bed
Where Mrs. Purple laid her head
And Mr. Brown...
Well, he('s) around
Lyrics submitted by TheSerenade
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