"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.
Bobby the Book and Sammy the Snitch
both trying to get with Alabama the Bitch
She'd date any scoundrel long as they're rich you know
She's juicing the Philly's riggin' the rig
She's tagging the wages laying the vig
It's not a profession but it ain't a bad gig oh no
Penny I can't had a bad break
was it supposed to happen or just a mistake
and who's gonna know when everyone's on the take yeah
A day at the races a shot at the dark
Santa Anita or Hollywood park
the odds are against you and that's how they stay
but that's what you get if you play
Manny the Monk and Shelley the Shoe
are trying to drink something other than Swift
So put up that guy on Jupiter Jill in the fifth
Last shot came in and I needed one
and that's when he lodged with Alabama
but she never layed it down 'cuz that whore said never would
Manny and Shell got nothing from Pam
put her to hit so she went on a lamb
there's no one for Bobby and no one for Sam oh no
A day at the races a shot at the dark
Santa Anita or Hollywood park
the odds are against you and that's how they stay
but that's what you get if you play
(repeat 3x)
And that's what you get when you play
both trying to get with Alabama the Bitch
She'd date any scoundrel long as they're rich you know
She's juicing the Philly's riggin' the rig
She's tagging the wages laying the vig
It's not a profession but it ain't a bad gig oh no
Penny I can't had a bad break
was it supposed to happen or just a mistake
and who's gonna know when everyone's on the take yeah
A day at the races a shot at the dark
Santa Anita or Hollywood park
the odds are against you and that's how they stay
but that's what you get if you play
Manny the Monk and Shelley the Shoe
are trying to drink something other than Swift
So put up that guy on Jupiter Jill in the fifth
Last shot came in and I needed one
and that's when he lodged with Alabama
but she never layed it down 'cuz that whore said never would
Manny and Shell got nothing from Pam
put her to hit so she went on a lamb
there's no one for Bobby and no one for Sam oh no
A day at the races a shot at the dark
Santa Anita or Hollywood park
the odds are against you and that's how they stay
but that's what you get if you play
(repeat 3x)
And that's what you get when you play
Lyrics submitted by liniwa
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Fast Car
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