"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 try to find a way out of this hole
But I'm dug in deep and its walls are steep
Been down so long it seems like all I've known
I try to find a way to make you see
The good in me, make you believe
I wasn't ready then but I can show you how
I'm ready now
Woah, woah it seems like it gets harder every year
I took two steps forward but three steps back
Had to take a deep breath before my bags were packed
Woah, woah it's gotta get easier from here
I had to learn to live without looking back
Look inside myself to find the things I lacked
I'm better off without all of your doubt
You don't know me or who I'll be
And without your help I've grown so much this year
You're scared to take a chance on something real
It's been so long since you could feel
I wasn't ready then but I can show you how
I'm ready now
Woah, woah it seems like it gets harder every year
I took two steps forward but three steps back
Had to take a deep breath before my bags were packed
Woah, woah it's gotta get easier from here
I had to learn to live without looking back
Look inside myself to find the things I lacked
Uh uh, uh uh
One thing I've learned is that
Good things will not fall in my lap
One thing I've learned is that
I had to work harder and longer
Be smarter and stronger
Than the person right beside me
Have the confidence and common sense
To know there's still something inside me
And oh, I gave my very best, with the purest intent
And I'll be proud when I look back
Woah, woah it seems like it gets harder every year
I took two steps forward but three steps back
Had to take a deep breath before my bags were packed
Woah, woah it's gotta get easier from here
I had to learn to live without looking back
Look inside myself to find the things I lacked
But I'm dug in deep and its walls are steep
Been down so long it seems like all I've known
I try to find a way to make you see
The good in me, make you believe
I wasn't ready then but I can show you how
I'm ready now
Woah, woah it seems like it gets harder every year
I took two steps forward but three steps back
Had to take a deep breath before my bags were packed
Woah, woah it's gotta get easier from here
I had to learn to live without looking back
Look inside myself to find the things I lacked
I'm better off without all of your doubt
You don't know me or who I'll be
And without your help I've grown so much this year
You're scared to take a chance on something real
It's been so long since you could feel
I wasn't ready then but I can show you how
I'm ready now
Woah, woah it seems like it gets harder every year
I took two steps forward but three steps back
Had to take a deep breath before my bags were packed
Woah, woah it's gotta get easier from here
I had to learn to live without looking back
Look inside myself to find the things I lacked
Uh uh, uh uh
One thing I've learned is that
Good things will not fall in my lap
One thing I've learned is that
I had to work harder and longer
Be smarter and stronger
Than the person right beside me
Have the confidence and common sense
To know there's still something inside me
And oh, I gave my very best, with the purest intent
And I'll be proud when I look back
Woah, woah it seems like it gets harder every year
I took two steps forward but three steps back
Had to take a deep breath before my bags were packed
Woah, woah it's gotta get easier from here
I had to learn to live without looking back
Look inside myself to find the things I lacked
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Fast Car
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Ebba Grön
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