"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.
She’s way up high, but knows where it’s at
Tightrope walking or she falls down flat
Perfect balance, she’s got it down pat
I could love an acrobat
Digging through the past checking off her list
History accounted for and not dismissed
Learning how differences can coexist
I could love an anthropologist
And in a day these roles we play
To the best for all man she tries to cater
Seen so many wrongs it’s just the way it’s made her
Talks about it now so it don’t blow up later
I could love a hostage negotiator
Graceful, she moves and her white dress fans her
When she gets on stage all eyes do transfer
Dancing just because she don’t need no answer
I could love a ballerina dancer
And in a day these roles we play
I put you on a pedestal, you fell down hard
I got a good look watching from my car
Now everywhere I look, well there you are
No, I can’t love a movie star
Tightrope walking or she falls down flat
Perfect balance, she’s got it down pat
I could love an acrobat
Digging through the past checking off her list
History accounted for and not dismissed
Learning how differences can coexist
I could love an anthropologist
And in a day these roles we play
To the best for all man she tries to cater
Seen so many wrongs it’s just the way it’s made her
Talks about it now so it don’t blow up later
I could love a hostage negotiator
Graceful, she moves and her white dress fans her
When she gets on stage all eyes do transfer
Dancing just because she don’t need no answer
I could love a ballerina dancer
And in a day these roles we play
I put you on a pedestal, you fell down hard
I got a good look watching from my car
Now everywhere I look, well there you are
No, I can’t love a movie star
Lyrics submitted by bsproutrex
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