"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.
The gentleman caller in the blue suede shoes
He dont know what to do
He just wants to look good for you
So he rushes in to tell you what he did today
But he can't think of what to say
I think you'll listen anyway
He wants to have a good time
Just like everybody
He doesn't want to fall apart
You watch him as he stutters over what to say
Its just a little game you play
It's no easier for you some days
You wish that you could tell him it'll be ok
But you feel a little shy these days
'Cause everybody goes away
Oh...
You just wanna have a good time
Just like everybody else
You dont want to fall apart this time
I can look into your eyes and see the mess we're in
Well darling if it's shit came out
Then I suppose that it's shit went in
Even though I couldn't say I've been the places that you've been
You know you made my heart real strong
Even if you made my head real thin
I wanna have a good time
Just like everybody
And I dont wanna fall apart
Oh..
I wanna have a good time
Just like everybody else
And I dont wanna fall apart this time
So would you please invite me in
Ohhhhhhh....
I really love the red haired girls
I'm just another boy from Texas
C'mon and take a spin
I got a brand new set of wings
Oh
I really love the red haired girls
I'm just another boy from Texas
C'mon and take a spin
Hey I gotta brand new set of wings
Man I sure do love them red haired girls
I'm just like all those boys from Texas
C'mon and take a spin
Hey little girl I gotta brand new set of wings
Oh, oh, oh
He dont know what to do
He just wants to look good for you
So he rushes in to tell you what he did today
But he can't think of what to say
I think you'll listen anyway
He wants to have a good time
Just like everybody
He doesn't want to fall apart
You watch him as he stutters over what to say
Its just a little game you play
It's no easier for you some days
You wish that you could tell him it'll be ok
But you feel a little shy these days
'Cause everybody goes away
Oh...
You just wanna have a good time
Just like everybody else
You dont want to fall apart this time
I can look into your eyes and see the mess we're in
Well darling if it's shit came out
Then I suppose that it's shit went in
Even though I couldn't say I've been the places that you've been
You know you made my heart real strong
Even if you made my head real thin
I wanna have a good time
Just like everybody
And I dont wanna fall apart
Oh..
I wanna have a good time
Just like everybody else
And I dont wanna fall apart this time
So would you please invite me in
Ohhhhhhh....
I really love the red haired girls
I'm just another boy from Texas
C'mon and take a spin
I got a brand new set of wings
Oh
I really love the red haired girls
I'm just another boy from Texas
C'mon and take a spin
Hey I gotta brand new set of wings
Man I sure do love them red haired girls
I'm just like all those boys from Texas
C'mon and take a spin
Hey little girl I gotta brand new set of wings
Oh, oh, oh
Lyrics submitted by Inejah
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I intitially thought this song was about a guy (the gentleman caller) who was going (paying for) on a date with a call girl. It was this really empty first date thing with someone who could never love him but he still went to the effort (the blue suede shoes). so he tries to come up with something that will make her like him and he just mesess it up. But inside this call girl can kind of relate to him because her life is full of these little failures too. she wants to tell him it will be ok, but holds back because she knows the futility of trying to comfort someone in rejection. I think they begin to realise they have more in common than they ever thought they could. I dont think they can ever be together but I think the guy takes consolation from the fact that hes not alone in being alone. Thats my take anyway.