"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.
I thought I knew all it took to bother you
Every word I said was true, that you'll see
How could it be I'm the only one who sees
Your rehearsed insanity? Yeah
I still refused all the methods you abuse
It's alright if you're confused, let me be
I've been around all the pawns you've gagged and bound
They'll come back and knock you down and I'll be free
I've taken all and I've endured
One day it all will fade, I'm sure
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I had no hand in your ever-desperate plan
It returns and when it lands, words are due
I should've known we were better off alone
I looked in and I was shown, you were too
I've taken all and I've endured
One day it all will fade, I'm sure
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I'll stick around, I'll stick around
Learn from all that came from it
I'll stick around, I'll stick around
Learn from all that came from it
I'll stick around, I'll stick around
Learn from all that came from it
I'll stick around, I'll stick around
Learn from all that came from it
Yeah
Every word I said was true, that you'll see
How could it be I'm the only one who sees
Your rehearsed insanity? Yeah
I still refused all the methods you abuse
It's alright if you're confused, let me be
I've been around all the pawns you've gagged and bound
They'll come back and knock you down and I'll be free
I've taken all and I've endured
One day it all will fade, I'm sure
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I had no hand in your ever-desperate plan
It returns and when it lands, words are due
I should've known we were better off alone
I looked in and I was shown, you were too
I've taken all and I've endured
One day it all will fade, I'm sure
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything
I'll stick around, I'll stick around
Learn from all that came from it
I'll stick around, I'll stick around
Learn from all that came from it
I'll stick around, I'll stick around
Learn from all that came from it
I'll stick around, I'll stick around
Learn from all that came from it
Yeah
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Fast Car
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I love Dave. He's awesome.