"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.
Would you be my girlfriend?
Would you be my girlfriend?
Would you be my girlfriend?
You know I like you, right?
But would you be my girlfriend? (Listen)
I don't know why you care (why you thinking 'bout him, mama?)
He doesn't even know you're there, no, no (he ain't even paying attention)
'Cause he don't love your eyes (nah)
And he don't love your smile (nah)
Girl, you know that ain't fair (c'mon)
The middle of the night (mm)
Is he gonna be by your side? (No, no)
Or will he run and hide?
You don't know 'cause things ain't clear
And baby, when you cry
Is he gonna stand by your side?
Does the man even know you're alive?
I got an idea
Why don't you be my girlfriend?
I'll treat you good (I'll treat you good, girl)
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
'Cause if you were my girlfriend
I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Does he know what you feel? (Does he know what you feel?)
Are you sure that it's real? Yeah (are you sure?)
Does he ease your mind (nah)
Or does he break your stride? (C'mon)
Did you know that love could be a shield? Yeah
The middle of the night (oh)
Is he gonna be by your side? (No, no)
Or will he run and hide?
You don't know 'cause things ain't clear
And baby, when you cry (oh, oh)
Is he gonna stand by your side? (No, no)
Does the man even know you're alive?
I got an idea, oh (listen)
Why don't you be my girlfriend? (Yeah, yeah)
I'll treat you good (I'll treat you good, girl)
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
Baby, 'cause if you were my girlfriend
I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(Yeah)
Ever since I saw your face
Nothing in my life has been the same
I walk around just saying your name
Without you, my world would end, yeah
I've searched around this whole damn place
And everything says you were meant to be
My girlfriend, oh (hey, girl)
Why don't you be my girlfriend? (Yeah, hey)
I'll treat you good
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
(I know you hear your friends when they say you should)
'Cause if you were my girlfriend (my girlfriend)
I'd be your shining star (be your shining star, yeah)
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(My baby, baby, yeah)
(You make my heart sing)
Girl, you should be
My girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (it's destiny)
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (my girlfriend)
My girlfriend
Would you be my girlfriend?
Would you be my girlfriend?
You know I like you, right?
But would you be my girlfriend? (Listen)
I don't know why you care (why you thinking 'bout him, mama?)
He doesn't even know you're there, no, no (he ain't even paying attention)
'Cause he don't love your eyes (nah)
And he don't love your smile (nah)
Girl, you know that ain't fair (c'mon)
The middle of the night (mm)
Is he gonna be by your side? (No, no)
Or will he run and hide?
You don't know 'cause things ain't clear
And baby, when you cry
Is he gonna stand by your side?
Does the man even know you're alive?
I got an idea
Why don't you be my girlfriend?
I'll treat you good (I'll treat you good, girl)
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
'Cause if you were my girlfriend
I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Does he know what you feel? (Does he know what you feel?)
Are you sure that it's real? Yeah (are you sure?)
Does he ease your mind (nah)
Or does he break your stride? (C'mon)
Did you know that love could be a shield? Yeah
The middle of the night (oh)
Is he gonna be by your side? (No, no)
Or will he run and hide?
You don't know 'cause things ain't clear
And baby, when you cry (oh, oh)
Is he gonna stand by your side? (No, no)
Does the man even know you're alive?
I got an idea, oh (listen)
Why don't you be my girlfriend? (Yeah, yeah)
I'll treat you good (I'll treat you good, girl)
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
Baby, 'cause if you were my girlfriend
I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(Yeah)
Ever since I saw your face
Nothing in my life has been the same
I walk around just saying your name
Without you, my world would end, yeah
I've searched around this whole damn place
And everything says you were meant to be
My girlfriend, oh (hey, girl)
Why don't you be my girlfriend? (Yeah, hey)
I'll treat you good
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
(I know you hear your friends when they say you should)
'Cause if you were my girlfriend (my girlfriend)
I'd be your shining star (be your shining star, yeah)
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(My baby, baby, yeah)
(You make my heart sing)
Girl, you should be
My girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (it's destiny)
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (my girlfriend)
My girlfriend
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Fast Car
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Great version of a great song,
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I love this song, thank-you