"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.
I got a call from my best friend this evening
He said he wasn't going out with us guys on Friday night
Yeah, he was gonna change for his new found flame to keep her satisfied
And I just laughed and said, "Hey man, well go ahead and try"
'Cause I gave up smoking, women and drinking last night
It was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
Now I've heard it said that too much fun will kill you
And I'll be the first to tell you that I don't wanna die
Too many twelve ounce curls, pretty girls and parties ain't advised
Well, take it from me don't believe all that hype
'Cause I gave up smoking, women and drinking last night
And it was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
That's right
Well, you could get hit by a truck tomorrow
So you might as well raise a little hell tonight
'Cause I gave up smoking, women and drinking last night
And it was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
Man, it was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
That's right
He said he wasn't going out with us guys on Friday night
Yeah, he was gonna change for his new found flame to keep her satisfied
And I just laughed and said, "Hey man, well go ahead and try"
'Cause I gave up smoking, women and drinking last night
It was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
Now I've heard it said that too much fun will kill you
And I'll be the first to tell you that I don't wanna die
Too many twelve ounce curls, pretty girls and parties ain't advised
Well, take it from me don't believe all that hype
'Cause I gave up smoking, women and drinking last night
And it was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
That's right
Well, you could get hit by a truck tomorrow
So you might as well raise a little hell tonight
'Cause I gave up smoking, women and drinking last night
And it was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
Man, it was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
That's right
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
15 Minutes Lyrics as written by Tony Carl Mullins Jamie Lee Thurston
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great song too :)