"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 live on a chain
You, share the same last name
As a joke
I sent a bottle of whiskey
As you choked I knew
It made you feel dirty
I was waiting over here
For life to begin
I was looking for the new thing
And you were the sunshine
Heading my front line
I was alone
You were just around the corner from me
Time alone is good
I spend my days in the city
Dirty neighborhood
You know you'll never convince me
So I sold the town away
I couldn't wait to forget you
I was killed in half a day
I hadn't time to regret you
I was waiting over here
For life to begin
I was looking for the new thing
And you were the sunshine
Heading my front line
I was alone
You were just around the corner from me
I live on chain
You share the same last name
As a joke
I sent a bottle of whiskey
As you choked I knew
It made you feel dirty
Waiting over here
For life to begin
I was looking for the new thing
You were the sunshine
Heading my front line
I was alone
And you were just around
The corner from me
You were the sunshine
Heading my front line
Just around the corner from me
Yeah you were
You were the sunshine
Heading my front line
Just around the corner
From me
Just around the corner
From me
You, share the same last name
As a joke
I sent a bottle of whiskey
As you choked I knew
It made you feel dirty
I was waiting over here
For life to begin
I was looking for the new thing
And you were the sunshine
Heading my front line
I was alone
You were just around the corner from me
Time alone is good
I spend my days in the city
Dirty neighborhood
You know you'll never convince me
So I sold the town away
I couldn't wait to forget you
I was killed in half a day
I hadn't time to regret you
I was waiting over here
For life to begin
I was looking for the new thing
And you were the sunshine
Heading my front line
I was alone
You were just around the corner from me
I live on chain
You share the same last name
As a joke
I sent a bottle of whiskey
As you choked I knew
It made you feel dirty
Waiting over here
For life to begin
I was looking for the new thing
You were the sunshine
Heading my front line
I was alone
And you were just around
The corner from me
You were the sunshine
Heading my front line
Just around the corner from me
Yeah you were
You were the sunshine
Heading my front line
Just around the corner
From me
Just around the corner
From me
Lyrics submitted by GSleazeBag
Life on a Chain Lyrics as written by Peter J. Yorn
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think it's about a close friendship - maybe even a sister or mom given the last name lyrics.
Clearly were his guidance and help, and when he deserted them shit went badly. It's all interconnected. "Sent a bottle of whiskey" to me relates to "dirty neighborhood." Basically his new life without them doesn't appeal to them, and without them things aren't going well for him.