"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.
Breakfast, sat on a Japanese mattress
Getting this happy takes practice
The world would be duller without us
Blacklist anyone who tries to attack this
They can say what they like but the fact is
They know nothing about us
And, yeah, we're a mess
But let me just stress
That we're both at our best in a tight spot
And whatever comes next
If we leave the nest
Don't settle for less than what we've got
Dive in: the summer is good to be alive in
Your boat was a long time arriving
And it's been a while since I kissed you
Timing: the temperature's high and it's climbing
How did I find the bind I'm in?
You haven't gone but I miss you
And, yeah, we're a mess
But let me just stress
That we're both at our best in a tight spot
And whatever comes next
If we leave the nest
Don't settle for less than what we've got
And right, here's what's left
And we've worked with less
I just don't get where the lines stop
Keep your cards pressed up close to your chest
And they'll never guess the hand we've got
Blacklist anyone who tries to attack this
They can say what they like but the fact is
They know nothing about us
Getting this happy takes practice
The world would be duller without us
Blacklist anyone who tries to attack this
They can say what they like but the fact is
They know nothing about us
And, yeah, we're a mess
But let me just stress
That we're both at our best in a tight spot
And whatever comes next
If we leave the nest
Don't settle for less than what we've got
Dive in: the summer is good to be alive in
Your boat was a long time arriving
And it's been a while since I kissed you
Timing: the temperature's high and it's climbing
How did I find the bind I'm in?
You haven't gone but I miss you
And, yeah, we're a mess
But let me just stress
That we're both at our best in a tight spot
And whatever comes next
If we leave the nest
Don't settle for less than what we've got
And right, here's what's left
And we've worked with less
I just don't get where the lines stop
Keep your cards pressed up close to your chest
And they'll never guess the hand we've got
Blacklist anyone who tries to attack this
They can say what they like but the fact is
They know nothing about us
Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry
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