"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.
Now I had the time of my life
No, I never felt like this before
Yes, I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
And I owe it all to you
I been waiting for so long
Now I finally found someone to stand by me
We saw the writing on the wall
As we felt this magical fantasy
Now with passion in our eyes
There's no way we could disguise it secretly
So we take each others hand
'Cause we seem to understand the urgency
Just remember
You're the one thing
I can't get enough of
So I'll tell you something
This could be love
Because I had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before
Yes, I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
Hey, baby
With my body and soul
I want you more than you'll ever know
So we'll just let it go
Don't be afraid to lose control, no
Yes, I know what's on your mind when you say
"Stay with me tonight" (stay with me)
And remember
You're the one thing
I can't get enough of
So I'll tell you something
This could be love
Because I had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before
Yes, I swear it's the truth (yes, I swear)
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I had the time of my life
And I've searched through every open door (never felt this way)
'Til I found the truth
And I owe it all to you
Now I (I) had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before (never felt this way)
Yes, I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
I had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before (never felt this way)
Yes, I swear it's the truth (it's the truth)
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I had the time of my life (I had time of my life)
Searched through every open door (you do it to me, baby)
'Til I found the truth (you do it to me, baby)
And I owe it all to you
No, I never felt like this before
Yes, I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
And I owe it all to you
I been waiting for so long
Now I finally found someone to stand by me
We saw the writing on the wall
As we felt this magical fantasy
Now with passion in our eyes
There's no way we could disguise it secretly
So we take each others hand
'Cause we seem to understand the urgency
Just remember
You're the one thing
I can't get enough of
So I'll tell you something
This could be love
Because I had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before
Yes, I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
Hey, baby
With my body and soul
I want you more than you'll ever know
So we'll just let it go
Don't be afraid to lose control, no
Yes, I know what's on your mind when you say
"Stay with me tonight" (stay with me)
And remember
You're the one thing
I can't get enough of
So I'll tell you something
This could be love
Because I had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before
Yes, I swear it's the truth (yes, I swear)
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I had the time of my life
And I've searched through every open door (never felt this way)
'Til I found the truth
And I owe it all to you
Now I (I) had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before (never felt this way)
Yes, I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
I had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before (never felt this way)
Yes, I swear it's the truth (it's the truth)
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I had the time of my life (I had time of my life)
Searched through every open door (you do it to me, baby)
'Til I found the truth (you do it to me, baby)
And I owe it all to you
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Fast Car
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