"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'm waiting for something else
I've already lost myself
This day is descending
The flower is bending
And I tried to believe in these lies
I tried to still see with black eyes
I wanted to tame you but
You never came through
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
And the sea is forming shackles to deliver
And I came to a resting place
I tried to take just a taste
The future is wasted
And I can't see the light from the sun
I can't even see where to run
You said we are learning but
The whole world is burning
It's so wrong
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
And the sea is forming shackles to deliver
And the sea is forming shackles to deliver
And the sea is forming shackles to deliver
And the sea is forming shackles to deliver
I've already lost myself
This day is descending
The flower is bending
And I tried to believe in these lies
I tried to still see with black eyes
I wanted to tame you but
You never came through
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
And the sea is forming shackles to deliver
And I came to a resting place
I tried to take just a taste
The future is wasted
And I can't see the light from the sun
I can't even see where to run
You said we are learning but
The whole world is burning
It's so wrong
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
Bitter
Just one more day when its already been too long
And the sea is forming shackles to deliver
And the sea is forming shackles to deliver
And the sea is forming shackles to deliver
And the sea is forming shackles to deliver
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Fast Car
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This song is so sweet. Remy Zero just rocks. Too bad it seems like nobody else likes em.