"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.
It was an early summer day
But it seems like just yesterday
When mama looked right in my face
And told me she was going away
If I could count all the tears that I crid
I'd be empty and lost inside
So I'll try to find a smile
And hold my head up high
Moma said
Don't cry
I'm going away Up high
Don't be afraid
Be strong
Just keep on holding on
Mama said
Don't cry
Dry all the tears
From your eyes
Don't be afraid
Be strong
Just keep on holding on
So young, but yet so wise
So much beauty was in her eyes
No one could quite explain
Just why she had to face the pain
But when the day comes and hits your time
Only God knows the reason why
She was my angel, my light, and my friend
But one day we'll be together again
But now that I know
She has gone away
Gone away, gone away
There were days when I wish that I could run away
Run away, run away
And if I could there would be another summer day
Summer day summer day
When I could see my mother's face again
Cause mama said
Don't cry
I'm goin away, way up high
Don't be afraid
Be strong
Just keep on holding on
Cause mama said
Baby don't ya cry
Just dry all the tears
From your eyese
Don't be afraid
Be strong
Just keep holding on
And on and on and on and on and on
Gone away, gone away , gone away
Run away, run away, run away
Summer day, summer day summer day
Will see my mother's face again
But it seems like just yesterday
When mama looked right in my face
And told me she was going away
If I could count all the tears that I crid
I'd be empty and lost inside
So I'll try to find a smile
And hold my head up high
Moma said
Don't cry
I'm going away Up high
Don't be afraid
Be strong
Just keep on holding on
Mama said
Don't cry
Dry all the tears
From your eyes
Don't be afraid
Be strong
Just keep on holding on
So young, but yet so wise
So much beauty was in her eyes
No one could quite explain
Just why she had to face the pain
But when the day comes and hits your time
Only God knows the reason why
She was my angel, my light, and my friend
But one day we'll be together again
But now that I know
She has gone away
Gone away, gone away
There were days when I wish that I could run away
Run away, run away
And if I could there would be another summer day
Summer day summer day
When I could see my mother's face again
Cause mama said
Don't cry
I'm goin away, way up high
Don't be afraid
Be strong
Just keep on holding on
Cause mama said
Baby don't ya cry
Just dry all the tears
From your eyese
Don't be afraid
Be strong
Just keep holding on
And on and on and on and on and on
Gone away, gone away , gone away
Run away, run away, run away
Summer day, summer day summer day
Will see my mother's face again
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