"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.
Who would you be if you could be me,
Just for a day?
Would you be happy?
Would you be angry?
You'd be crazy for a day.
Now I'm tired and looking for a bed to rest.
No one ever talks to me unless
They think I am depressed.
I really hate faking it, but it's what I do best.
It's no longer a mental picture,
I have set out alone.
I'm tired of the same old lecture,
So I'm never coming home.
Now here I am ready to part
With everything dear to my heart,
Except for you.
But losing you is nothing new.
Waking up and walking down,
Looking up and all around.
From here it's hard to see the ground.
That's fine 'cause I'm not homeward bound.
Night time is what I fear the most.
Every night haunted by your ghost.
But it's something that I can take.
My fear of you was never something I could fake.
Just for a day?
Would you be happy?
Would you be angry?
You'd be crazy for a day.
Now I'm tired and looking for a bed to rest.
No one ever talks to me unless
They think I am depressed.
I really hate faking it, but it's what I do best.
It's no longer a mental picture,
I have set out alone.
I'm tired of the same old lecture,
So I'm never coming home.
Now here I am ready to part
With everything dear to my heart,
Except for you.
But losing you is nothing new.
Waking up and walking down,
Looking up and all around.
From here it's hard to see the ground.
That's fine 'cause I'm not homeward bound.
Night time is what I fear the most.
Every night haunted by your ghost.
But it's something that I can take.
My fear of you was never something I could fake.
Lyrics submitted by FlipperBomb
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Fast Car
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Home Sweet Home!