"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.
We all know the girls that I am talking about Well they are time bombs and they are ticking
and the only question's when they'll blow up
And they'll blow up, we know that without a doubt
cause they're those girls, yeah you know those girls that let their emotions get the best of them
And I've contrived some sort of a plan to help my fellow man
Let's get emotional girls to all wear mood rings
So we'll be tipped off to when they're ticked off
cause we'll know just what they're thinking...just what they're thinking
She's so pretty but she doesn't always act that way
Her mood's out swinging on the swing set almost everyday
She said to me that she's so happy its depressing
And all I said was someone get that girl a mood ring
If its drama you want then look no further
They're like the Real World, meets Boy Meets World, meets Days of our Lives
And it just kills me how they get away with murder
They're anger you then bat their eyes... those pretty eyes that watch you sympathize
And I've contrived some sort of a plan to help my fellow man
Let's get emotional girls to all wear mood rings
So we'll be tipped off to when they're ticked off
cause we'll know just what they're thinking...just what they're thinking
She's so pretty but she doesn't always act that way
Her mood's out swinging on the swing set almost everyday
She said to me that she's so stressed out that its soothing
And all I said was someone get that girl a mood ring
Cause when its black means watch your back because you're probably the last person in the world right now she wants to see
And when its blue it means that you should call her up immediately and ask her out because she'll most likely agree
And when its green it simply means that she is really stressed
And when its clear it means she's completely emotionless
And that's alright I must confess...
We all know the girls that I am talking about She liked you wednesday but now its friday and she has to wash her hair
And it just figures that we'll never figure them out
First she's Jekyll and then she's Hyde...
At least she makes a lovely pair
Mood ring, oh mood ring
Oh tell me will you bring
The key to unlock this mystery?
Of girls and their emotions,
play it back in slow motion
So i may understand the complex infrastructure known as the female mind...
(spoken)...ha... that was terrible...
and the only question's when they'll blow up
And they'll blow up, we know that without a doubt
cause they're those girls, yeah you know those girls that let their emotions get the best of them
And I've contrived some sort of a plan to help my fellow man
Let's get emotional girls to all wear mood rings
So we'll be tipped off to when they're ticked off
cause we'll know just what they're thinking...just what they're thinking
She's so pretty but she doesn't always act that way
Her mood's out swinging on the swing set almost everyday
She said to me that she's so happy its depressing
And all I said was someone get that girl a mood ring
If its drama you want then look no further
They're like the Real World, meets Boy Meets World, meets Days of our Lives
And it just kills me how they get away with murder
They're anger you then bat their eyes... those pretty eyes that watch you sympathize
And I've contrived some sort of a plan to help my fellow man
Let's get emotional girls to all wear mood rings
So we'll be tipped off to when they're ticked off
cause we'll know just what they're thinking...just what they're thinking
She's so pretty but she doesn't always act that way
Her mood's out swinging on the swing set almost everyday
She said to me that she's so stressed out that its soothing
And all I said was someone get that girl a mood ring
Cause when its black means watch your back because you're probably the last person in the world right now she wants to see
And when its blue it means that you should call her up immediately and ask her out because she'll most likely agree
And when its green it simply means that she is really stressed
And when its clear it means she's completely emotionless
And that's alright I must confess...
We all know the girls that I am talking about She liked you wednesday but now its friday and she has to wash her hair
And it just figures that we'll never figure them out
First she's Jekyll and then she's Hyde...
At least she makes a lovely pair
Mood ring, oh mood ring
Oh tell me will you bring
The key to unlock this mystery?
Of girls and their emotions,
play it back in slow motion
So i may understand the complex infrastructure known as the female mind...
(spoken)...ha... that was terrible...
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haha, this song is about ME. I went and got a mood ring to make it easier on guys after I heard this song, but stupid claires stuff breaks easily