"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.
Rollin' out, motherfuckers, it's the robots in disguise
Led by Optimus Prime, a bot whose power never dies
Cars and vans and planes, fucking construction trucks
They're going undercover 'cause Decepticons don't give a fuck
Autobots, it's time, we're rolling out! (Right!)
Oh my God, that truck is Optimus without a doubt!
Uh, no I'm not
Yes you are, my dearest robot bro
You guys've been on my lunch box since the 19-fucking-80's, yo!
Oh balls, Autobots, listen here
I think it's time to try to find another way to disappear
New disguises that our enemies could never recognize
Bumblebee, become a burger; Prowl, you are the side of fries (Huh?)
Do it! Don't you want to light our darkest hour?
Jazz, you're now a birthday cake
You've got the touch, I've got the flour
Autobots, roll out
Let's show 'em what we're all about
We'll catch you by surprise when we're in disguise
As a trunk full of sprouts and a tiny Asian Girl Scout
Now the time has come
To rock the Deceptiscum
They better be alert, 'cause we can now convert
To a skirt, polo shirt, and a little mound of wet dirt
Megatron will pay
As soon as I take on the form of this delightful soufflé
Okay
After hours and hours of transforming into stuff
The Autobots decided on a plan that's super duper tough
Those Deceptidicks won't see us coming at all
When we roll up together as random kiosks at the local mall (Yeah)
Who'd even think to guess that Bumblebee is selling cell phone chargers
For $3 less a cent? (Yeah)
They'll never know we're here, while we're hawking beauty products
Making teenage acne disappear
As if they could stop Ratchet before, bitch
He's combined with Ironhide to form a turkey sandwich
And I haven't even mentioned the ace that's up my sleeve
He rocks a jet engine that'll make your ears bleed
He'll betray Megatron plus he's boisterous and loud
This is your moment, come on Starscream, now bring it down
...Hey, this... I'm Starscream...
What?
I just, I just wanted to say that Megatron-
Just speak up, man!
Megatron, you're going down-
Speak-
Ugh, come on. All right, you know what? Forget it.
Autobots, let's fight these enemies with all our might
It's time to do what's right and transform tonight
To five kites, egg whites, and a family of field mice
The Decepticons are now ten tanks and a giant gun
While Grimlock's a rake and I'm a warm milkshake
There's a small chance that we made a very tiny mistake
Well, it's too late now, we're the good guys
And I'm sure that everything will work out
Megatron, you're going- AHHHHHHHHHHHH
...Optimus, I really had, uh-
Starscream, shut up!
Okay.
Led by Optimus Prime, a bot whose power never dies
Cars and vans and planes, fucking construction trucks
They're going undercover 'cause Decepticons don't give a fuck
Autobots, it's time, we're rolling out! (Right!)
Oh my God, that truck is Optimus without a doubt!
Uh, no I'm not
Yes you are, my dearest robot bro
You guys've been on my lunch box since the 19-fucking-80's, yo!
Oh balls, Autobots, listen here
I think it's time to try to find another way to disappear
New disguises that our enemies could never recognize
Bumblebee, become a burger; Prowl, you are the side of fries (Huh?)
Do it! Don't you want to light our darkest hour?
Jazz, you're now a birthday cake
You've got the touch, I've got the flour
Autobots, roll out
Let's show 'em what we're all about
We'll catch you by surprise when we're in disguise
As a trunk full of sprouts and a tiny Asian Girl Scout
Now the time has come
To rock the Deceptiscum
They better be alert, 'cause we can now convert
To a skirt, polo shirt, and a little mound of wet dirt
Megatron will pay
As soon as I take on the form of this delightful soufflé
Okay
After hours and hours of transforming into stuff
The Autobots decided on a plan that's super duper tough
Those Deceptidicks won't see us coming at all
When we roll up together as random kiosks at the local mall (Yeah)
Who'd even think to guess that Bumblebee is selling cell phone chargers
For $3 less a cent? (Yeah)
They'll never know we're here, while we're hawking beauty products
Making teenage acne disappear
As if they could stop Ratchet before, bitch
He's combined with Ironhide to form a turkey sandwich
And I haven't even mentioned the ace that's up my sleeve
He rocks a jet engine that'll make your ears bleed
He'll betray Megatron plus he's boisterous and loud
This is your moment, come on Starscream, now bring it down
...Hey, this... I'm Starscream...
What?
I just, I just wanted to say that Megatron-
Just speak up, man!
Megatron, you're going down-
Speak-
Ugh, come on. All right, you know what? Forget it.
Autobots, let's fight these enemies with all our might
It's time to do what's right and transform tonight
To five kites, egg whites, and a family of field mice
The Decepticons are now ten tanks and a giant gun
While Grimlock's a rake and I'm a warm milkshake
There's a small chance that we made a very tiny mistake
Well, it's too late now, we're the good guys
And I'm sure that everything will work out
Megatron, you're going- AHHHHHHHHHHHH
...Optimus, I really had, uh-
Starscream, shut up!
Okay.
Lyrics submitted by Ashram
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