"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.
What am I doing here?
Living out a dream
The vision is finally clear
Of what it all could really mean
What am I doing here?
Heart don’t listen to my mind
I’ve got nothing left to fear
I’ve played it out a thousand times
Do I have chance?
Or might I stumble and fall
Could it be my time to shine?
My time to have it all
And will someone else’s fame be linked with mine?
Will my place be etched in endless time?
Oh the hope the quest the love of human kind
And the rest of it depends on how we try to make it end
What am I doing here?
There’s just no place I’d rather be
I’ve never felt so awake
I’ve memorized everything I see
Do I have chance?
Or might I stumble and fall
Could it be my time to shine?
My time to have it all
And will someone else’s fame be linked with mine
Will my place be etched in endless time?
Oh the hope the quest the love of human kind
And the rest of it depends on how we try to make it end
Oh the hope, the quest, the love of human kind
And the rest of it depends on how we try to make it end
With the help of one good friend
To give the best I can
That’s what I’m doing here
Living out a dream
The vision is finally clear
Of what it all could really mean
What am I doing here?
Heart don’t listen to my mind
I’ve got nothing left to fear
I’ve played it out a thousand times
Do I have chance?
Or might I stumble and fall
Could it be my time to shine?
My time to have it all
And will someone else’s fame be linked with mine?
Will my place be etched in endless time?
Oh the hope the quest the love of human kind
And the rest of it depends on how we try to make it end
What am I doing here?
There’s just no place I’d rather be
I’ve never felt so awake
I’ve memorized everything I see
Do I have chance?
Or might I stumble and fall
Could it be my time to shine?
My time to have it all
And will someone else’s fame be linked with mine
Will my place be etched in endless time?
Oh the hope the quest the love of human kind
And the rest of it depends on how we try to make it end
Oh the hope, the quest, the love of human kind
And the rest of it depends on how we try to make it end
With the help of one good friend
To give the best I can
That’s what I’m doing here
Lyrics submitted by AngieMe0528
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