"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 kettle's on, The sun has gone, another day.
She offers me Tibetan tea on a flower tray.
She's at the door, she wants to score.
She really needs to say.
I loved you a long time ago, you know.
Where the wind's own forget-me-nots blow.
But I just couldn't let myself go.
Not knowing what on earth there was to know.
But I wish that I had 'cause I'm feeling so sad.
That I never had one of your children.
Across the room, inside a tomb, a chance has waxed and waned.
The night is young, why are we so hung up in each other's chains?
I must take her.
I must make her while the dove domains.
And feel the juice run as she flies.
Run my wings under her sighs.
As the flames of eternity rise.
To lick us with the first born lash of dawn.
Oh really my dear I can't see what we fear.
Standing here with ourselves in between us.
And at the door, we can't say more, than just another day.
And without a sound, I turn around, and walk away.
She offers me Tibetan tea on a flower tray.
She's at the door, she wants to score.
She really needs to say.
I loved you a long time ago, you know.
Where the wind's own forget-me-nots blow.
But I just couldn't let myself go.
Not knowing what on earth there was to know.
But I wish that I had 'cause I'm feeling so sad.
That I never had one of your children.
Across the room, inside a tomb, a chance has waxed and waned.
The night is young, why are we so hung up in each other's chains?
I must take her.
I must make her while the dove domains.
And feel the juice run as she flies.
Run my wings under her sighs.
As the flames of eternity rise.
To lick us with the first born lash of dawn.
Oh really my dear I can't see what we fear.
Standing here with ourselves in between us.
And at the door, we can't say more, than just another day.
And without a sound, I turn around, and walk away.
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Fast Car
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This is truely so artistic that so boldly artistic.... This reminds me of a vague dream, yeah as commented before, but just before dawn... the darkness is at best... and yet the meaning of other words are obvious... But if you want to listen to it metaphorically, we can call the "she!" the old, past passion... Might be the old her... The pure childhood... And she suffers that she'd never get a lead on that path, as she's changed now... And the song ends, so suddenly... that bites... truely art...