"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.
At the dark end of the street
That's where we always meet
Hiding in shadows where we don't belong
Living in darkness to hide our wrong
You and me, at the dark end of the street
Just you and me
I know that time is gonna take its toll
We're gonna pay for the love that we stole
Ah it's a sin and we know that it's wrong
Ah but our love keeps coming on strong
You and me, at the dark end of the street
Just you and me
They're gonna find us
They're gonna find us
They're gonna find us someday
We'll steal away to the dark end of the street
Just you and me
If you take a walk downtown
And you find some time to look around
If you should see me and I walk on by
Oh darling please don't cry
Tonight we'll meet
At the dark end of the street
Just you and me, oh you and me, oh you and me
That's where we always meet
Hiding in shadows where we don't belong
Living in darkness to hide our wrong
You and me, at the dark end of the street
Just you and me
I know that time is gonna take its toll
We're gonna pay for the love that we stole
Ah it's a sin and we know that it's wrong
Ah but our love keeps coming on strong
You and me, at the dark end of the street
Just you and me
They're gonna find us
They're gonna find us
They're gonna find us someday
We'll steal away to the dark end of the street
Just you and me
If you take a walk downtown
And you find some time to look around
If you should see me and I walk on by
Oh darling please don't cry
Tonight we'll meet
At the dark end of the street
Just you and me, oh you and me, oh you and me
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Dark End of the Street Lyrics as written by Dan Penn Chips Moman
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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