"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 used to sit alone and wonder what it would be like to be famous without you right by my side
I wondered so hard I used to cry myself to sleep
But then I realized I was stepping on your feet, stepping on your feet
As I'm sitting in my bed thinking about the things you said I am trying hard to be the best that I can be
I never thought I'd see you cry
When I told you things I'd tried
Cause I'm trying hard to be the best I can be
What can I do, what can I say?
I tried mom, I tried mom, I tried mom to be the best that I can be
When I used to go get gas
I would see your ugly ass
Staring at me through the shiny window at Blimpie's
And when I'd see you running there
You'd remind me of a hare
Then I'd remember to be the best that I can be
What can I do, what can I say? I thought I made it okay today. What can I do, what can I say? Let's see where this brings me
I wondered so hard I used to cry myself to sleep
But then I realized I was stepping on your feet, stepping on your feet
As I'm sitting in my bed thinking about the things you said I am trying hard to be the best that I can be
I never thought I'd see you cry
When I told you things I'd tried
Cause I'm trying hard to be the best I can be
What can I do, what can I say?
I tried mom, I tried mom, I tried mom to be the best that I can be
When I used to go get gas
I would see your ugly ass
Staring at me through the shiny window at Blimpie's
And when I'd see you running there
You'd remind me of a hare
Then I'd remember to be the best that I can be
What can I do, what can I say? I thought I made it okay today. What can I do, what can I say? Let's see where this brings me
Lyrics submitted by iLoveSavesTheDay
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