"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.
Sometimes I don't know what to say
And I feel like everything won't be ok
And I wish all the kids wouldn't stare
And I wish that I really didn't care
As much as I pretend, it all gets to me
And a cool kid is something I'll just never be
I feel just like a kid in show and tell
That forgot to bring something so he showed his pencil
And all the other kids just laugh and stare
But I'll convince myself that I don't care
I'll convince the world that I don't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
OH I DON'T CARE!
Apathy don't come easy to me
Compassion is no longer a commodity
Can't pretend not to hear what they say
Sometimes I just want to run away
But I can't hide all my life
I'll never get tired of this strife
I feel just like a kid in show and tell
That forgot to bring something so he showed his pencil
And all the other kids just laugh and stare
But I'll convince myself that I don't care
I'll convince the world that I don't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
OH I DON'T CARE!
As we get older we all lose our dreams
As we get older we stop caring it seams
Human nature is for people to grow apart
And no one is immune to a broken heart
Why can't we all just get along?
Why do you always say I'm wrong?
I feel just like a kid in show and tell
That forgot to bring something so he showed his pencil
And all the other kids just laugh and stare
But I'll convince myself that I don't care
I'll convince the world that I don't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
OH I DON'T CARE!
And I feel like everything won't be ok
And I wish all the kids wouldn't stare
And I wish that I really didn't care
As much as I pretend, it all gets to me
And a cool kid is something I'll just never be
I feel just like a kid in show and tell
That forgot to bring something so he showed his pencil
And all the other kids just laugh and stare
But I'll convince myself that I don't care
I'll convince the world that I don't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
OH I DON'T CARE!
Apathy don't come easy to me
Compassion is no longer a commodity
Can't pretend not to hear what they say
Sometimes I just want to run away
But I can't hide all my life
I'll never get tired of this strife
I feel just like a kid in show and tell
That forgot to bring something so he showed his pencil
And all the other kids just laugh and stare
But I'll convince myself that I don't care
I'll convince the world that I don't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
OH I DON'T CARE!
As we get older we all lose our dreams
As we get older we stop caring it seams
Human nature is for people to grow apart
And no one is immune to a broken heart
Why can't we all just get along?
Why do you always say I'm wrong?
I feel just like a kid in show and tell
That forgot to bring something so he showed his pencil
And all the other kids just laugh and stare
But I'll convince myself that I don't care
I'll convince the world that I don't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
I won't care I don't care I can't care
OH I DON'T CARE!
Lyrics submitted by owlfnshow
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