"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.
If shame had a face
I think it would kind of look like mine
If it had a home would it be my eyes
Would you believe me
If I said I am tired of this
Now here we go now one more time
'Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low
I could get down to the ground
I tried to earn my way
I tried to change this mind
You better believe that
I tried to beat this
So when will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
I never thought I'd end up here
Never thought I'd be standing where I am
I guess I kind of thought
It would be easier than this
I guess I was wrong
Now one more time
'Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low
I could get down to the ground
I tried to earn my way
I tried to change this mind
You better believe that
I tried to beat this
So when will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this
Sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle yeah
Sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle yeah
So when will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
When will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
(Sick cycle carousel)
(Sick cycle carousel)
(Sick cycle carousel)
(Sick cycle carousel)
(Sick cycle carousel)
(Sick cycle carousel)
I think it would kind of look like mine
If it had a home would it be my eyes
Would you believe me
If I said I am tired of this
Now here we go now one more time
'Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low
I could get down to the ground
I tried to earn my way
I tried to change this mind
You better believe that
I tried to beat this
So when will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
I never thought I'd end up here
Never thought I'd be standing where I am
I guess I kind of thought
It would be easier than this
I guess I was wrong
Now one more time
'Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low
I could get down to the ground
I tried to earn my way
I tried to change this mind
You better believe that
I tried to beat this
So when will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this
Sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle yeah
Sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle yeah
So when will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
When will this end
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around
I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
(Sick cycle carousel)
(Sick cycle carousel)
(Sick cycle carousel)
(Sick cycle carousel)
(Sick cycle carousel)
(Sick cycle carousel)
Lyrics submitted by dsfire
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This song can mean whatever you'd like it to. Everyone interprets things and feels things differently. I relate to this song on a relationship level, like others have felt as well. If you think it's about God, so be it. Who gives a shit, it's about what you think it means. 'Nuff said. No one is wrong or right here.