"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.
Don't bother crying, don't bother calling
It's all over now, no use in stalling
The love once I felt
I don't feel anymore for you
This time I'll even open the door for you
You walked out when I was down
Well, now I'm well off
And look, look who's coming 'round
Where were you when I needed ya
Where were you when I wanted ya
Where were you when I needed ya
Where?
You're looking good
It's hard to fight it
There's no use explaining
I've already decided
That living with you
Is worse than without you
I won't spend a lifetime worrying about you
Things get rough and you disappeared
Now I'm back on my feet
And look, look who is standing there
Where were you when I needed ya
Where were you when I wanted ya
Where were you when I needed ya
Where?
You were so young and you were so wild
I knew you were nobody's innocent child
The first day I saw you
You really got to me
I thought I could change you
What good did it to me?
Things got rough and you couldn't wait
Now you're tripping back
But babe, babe it's too late
Where were you when I needed ya
Where were you when I wanted ya
Where were you when I needed ya
Where?
It's all over now, no use in stalling
The love once I felt
I don't feel anymore for you
This time I'll even open the door for you
You walked out when I was down
Well, now I'm well off
And look, look who's coming 'round
Where were you when I needed ya
Where were you when I wanted ya
Where were you when I needed ya
Where?
You're looking good
It's hard to fight it
There's no use explaining
I've already decided
That living with you
Is worse than without you
I won't spend a lifetime worrying about you
Things get rough and you disappeared
Now I'm back on my feet
And look, look who is standing there
Where were you when I needed ya
Where were you when I wanted ya
Where were you when I needed ya
Where?
You were so young and you were so wild
I knew you were nobody's innocent child
The first day I saw you
You really got to me
I thought I could change you
What good did it to me?
Things got rough and you couldn't wait
Now you're tripping back
But babe, babe it's too late
Where were you when I needed ya
Where were you when I wanted ya
Where were you when I needed ya
Where?
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Page
Ed Sheeran
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