"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.
On the other side of a street I knew
Stood a girl that looked like you
I guess that's déjà vu
But I thought this can't be true
'Cause you moved to west L.A or New York or Santa Fe
Or wherever to get away from me
Oh, but that one night
Was more than just right
I didn't leave you 'cause I was all through
Oh, I was overwhelmed, and frankly, scared as hell
Because I really fell for you
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy looking for a 2-ply
Hefty bag to hold my love
When you move me, everything is groovy
They don't like it, sue me
Mm, the way you do me
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
On the other side of a downward spiral
My love for you went viral
And I loved you every mile you drove away
But now, here you are again
So, let's skip the "How you been?"
And get down to the "more than friends" at last
Oh, but that one night was still the highlight
I didn't need you until I came to
And I was overwhelmed, and frankly, scared as hell
Because I really fell for you
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy looking for a 2-ply
Hefty bag to hold my love
When you move me, everything is groovy
They don't like it, sue me
Mm, the way you do me
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Please believe that when I leave
There's nothing up my sleeve but love for you
And a little time to get my head together too
On the other side of a street I knew
Stood a girl that looked like you
I guess that's déjà vu
But I thought this can't be true
'Cause
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy looking for a 2-ply
Hefty bag to hold my love
When you move me, everything is groovy
They don't like it, sue me
Mm, the way you do me
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Stood a girl that looked like you
I guess that's déjà vu
But I thought this can't be true
'Cause you moved to west L.A or New York or Santa Fe
Or wherever to get away from me
Oh, but that one night
Was more than just right
I didn't leave you 'cause I was all through
Oh, I was overwhelmed, and frankly, scared as hell
Because I really fell for you
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy looking for a 2-ply
Hefty bag to hold my love
When you move me, everything is groovy
They don't like it, sue me
Mm, the way you do me
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
On the other side of a downward spiral
My love for you went viral
And I loved you every mile you drove away
But now, here you are again
So, let's skip the "How you been?"
And get down to the "more than friends" at last
Oh, but that one night was still the highlight
I didn't need you until I came to
And I was overwhelmed, and frankly, scared as hell
Because I really fell for you
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy looking for a 2-ply
Hefty bag to hold my love
When you move me, everything is groovy
They don't like it, sue me
Mm, the way you do me
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Please believe that when I leave
There's nothing up my sleeve but love for you
And a little time to get my head together too
On the other side of a street I knew
Stood a girl that looked like you
I guess that's déjà vu
But I thought this can't be true
'Cause
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy looking for a 2-ply
Hefty bag to hold my love
When you move me, everything is groovy
They don't like it, sue me
Mm, the way you do me
Oh, I swear to you
I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
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I can't stand this song because it's on that blasted Ford commercial that is on the TV 24/7 and it's on the radio every day. If it weren't for that though, it's a cute and catchy song. But is the girl on the other side of the street the same girl?