"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.
Wondering how our love just slipped away,
Was it something that we didn't say.
Could it be that you need
What I never could have been,
For you, my baby.
Now you're taking your time
To think it through,
That can't be the end for me and you.
On my mind all the time,
I still want you by my side,
Baby
And I realize (now you're wanting me)
Something deep inside (feeling so good)
Every day and night (how you make me feel)
And I'll be there always.
[Chorus]
Right here, right now,
With you, is where I want to be.
Right by, your side side,
Cause you are the one, you are the one
Right here, right now,
With you, is where I want to be.
Right by, your side,
Cause you are the one,
You are the one for me.
There isn't a day when I don't think of you,
And all of the things we do.
If you could see how much you mean to me,
I'd be there always.
Whenever I hear you talk to me that way,
It reminds me of why I want to stay.
In your arms I feel safe,
I won't ever go,
I'll be here always.
And I realize (now you're wanting me)
Something deep inside (feeling so good)
Every day and night (how you make me feel)
And I'll be there always.
[Chorus]
And I realize (now you're wanting me)
Something deep inside (feeling so good)
Every day and night (how you make me feel)
And I'll be there always.
Right here (to hold you),
Right now (to show you)
With you (just to know you),
Is where I want to be.
Right by (forever),
Your side (to hold you),
Cause you are the one,
You are the one (you're the one)
Right here (to hold you),
Right now (to show you)
With you (just to know you),
Is where I want to be
Right by (forever),
Your side (to hold you)
(repeat)
Was it something that we didn't say.
Could it be that you need
What I never could have been,
For you, my baby.
Now you're taking your time
To think it through,
That can't be the end for me and you.
On my mind all the time,
I still want you by my side,
Baby
And I realize (now you're wanting me)
Something deep inside (feeling so good)
Every day and night (how you make me feel)
And I'll be there always.
[Chorus]
Right here, right now,
With you, is where I want to be.
Right by, your side side,
Cause you are the one, you are the one
Right here, right now,
With you, is where I want to be.
Right by, your side,
Cause you are the one,
You are the one for me.
There isn't a day when I don't think of you,
And all of the things we do.
If you could see how much you mean to me,
I'd be there always.
Whenever I hear you talk to me that way,
It reminds me of why I want to stay.
In your arms I feel safe,
I won't ever go,
I'll be here always.
And I realize (now you're wanting me)
Something deep inside (feeling so good)
Every day and night (how you make me feel)
And I'll be there always.
[Chorus]
And I realize (now you're wanting me)
Something deep inside (feeling so good)
Every day and night (how you make me feel)
And I'll be there always.
Right here (to hold you),
Right now (to show you)
With you (just to know you),
Is where I want to be.
Right by (forever),
Your side (to hold you),
Cause you are the one,
You are the one (you're the one)
Right here (to hold you),
Right now (to show you)
With you (just to know you),
Is where I want to be
Right by (forever),
Your side (to hold you)
(repeat)
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Fast Car
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