"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 know you'll be there
To see the tables turning
Wake up tomorrow
And watch the bridges burning
I can see
I can see it in your eyes
I can feel
I can feel it in my mind
I don't care
I don't care if you realize
What you see
What you see in my eyes
I'm over me being under you
I'm breaking free I'm breaking through
I've overcome all I'm underneath
I can finally stand
I can finally breathe
Remember when we
First had the thought of living
A perfect picture
But I did all the giving
Gave up my passions
To try to make you happy
The joke is over
And I'll do all the laughing
I can see
I can see it in your eyes
I can feel
I can feel it in my mind
I don't care
I don't care if you realize
What you see
What you see in my eyes
I'm over me being under you
I'm breaking free I'm breaking through
I've overcome all I'm underneath
I can finally stand
I can finally breathe
I can see
I can see it in your eyes
I can feel
I can feel it in my mind
I don't care
I don't care if you realize
What you see
What you see in my eyes
I'm over me being under you
I'm breaking free I'm breaking through
I've overcome all I'm underneath
I can finally stand
I can finally breathe
I'm over me being under you
I'm breaking free I'm breaking through
I've overcome all I'm underneath
I can finally stand
I can finally breathe
To see the tables turning
Wake up tomorrow
And watch the bridges burning
I can see
I can see it in your eyes
I can feel
I can feel it in my mind
I don't care
I don't care if you realize
What you see
What you see in my eyes
I'm over me being under you
I'm breaking free I'm breaking through
I've overcome all I'm underneath
I can finally stand
I can finally breathe
Remember when we
First had the thought of living
A perfect picture
But I did all the giving
Gave up my passions
To try to make you happy
The joke is over
And I'll do all the laughing
I can see
I can see it in your eyes
I can feel
I can feel it in my mind
I don't care
I don't care if you realize
What you see
What you see in my eyes
I'm over me being under you
I'm breaking free I'm breaking through
I've overcome all I'm underneath
I can finally stand
I can finally breathe
I can see
I can see it in your eyes
I can feel
I can feel it in my mind
I don't care
I don't care if you realize
What you see
What you see in my eyes
I'm over me being under you
I'm breaking free I'm breaking through
I've overcome all I'm underneath
I can finally stand
I can finally breathe
I'm over me being under you
I'm breaking free I'm breaking through
I've overcome all I'm underneath
I can finally stand
I can finally breathe
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