"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 play in a band
We're the best in the land
We're big in both Chelsea and France
I play one mean guitar and then score at the bar
There's a line of chicks waiting for their chance
So come on now honey, I'll make you feel pretty
These other gals mean nothing to me
Let's finish these drinks and be gone for the night
'Cause I'm more than a handfull you'll see
[Chorus:]
So kiss me, I'm shitfaced
and i'm soaked and i'm soiled and brown
in the trousers, she kissed me!
And I only bought her one round
I can bench press a car
I'm an ex football star
with degrees from both harvard and yale
Girls just can't keep up
I'm a really love machine
I've had far better sex while in jail
I designed the Sears tower
I make two grand an hour
I cook the world's best duck flambe
I'll take the pick of the liter
And girls jockey for me
I don't need these lines to get laid
[Chorus]
I'm the man of the night
A real ladies delight
See, my figure was chisled from stone
One more for the gal then I'll escort her home
Come last call, I'm never alone
I own a house on the hill with a red water bed
It puts Hugh Heffnor's mansion to shame
With girls by the pool and italian sports cars
I'm just here in this dump for the game
[Chorus x2]
Ahh, fuck it. Who am I shittin'?
I'm a pitiful sight
And I ain't all that bright
I'm definitly not chisled from stone
I'm a cheat and a liar
No women's desire
I'll probably die cold and alone
But just give me a chance
Cause deep down inside
I swear I got a big heart of gold
I'm a monoganous man
No more one night stands
Come on, honey, let me take you home
[Chorus x4]
We're the best in the land
We're big in both Chelsea and France
I play one mean guitar and then score at the bar
There's a line of chicks waiting for their chance
So come on now honey, I'll make you feel pretty
These other gals mean nothing to me
Let's finish these drinks and be gone for the night
'Cause I'm more than a handfull you'll see
[Chorus:]
So kiss me, I'm shitfaced
and i'm soaked and i'm soiled and brown
in the trousers, she kissed me!
And I only bought her one round
I can bench press a car
I'm an ex football star
with degrees from both harvard and yale
Girls just can't keep up
I'm a really love machine
I've had far better sex while in jail
I designed the Sears tower
I make two grand an hour
I cook the world's best duck flambe
I'll take the pick of the liter
And girls jockey for me
I don't need these lines to get laid
[Chorus]
I'm the man of the night
A real ladies delight
See, my figure was chisled from stone
One more for the gal then I'll escort her home
Come last call, I'm never alone
I own a house on the hill with a red water bed
It puts Hugh Heffnor's mansion to shame
With girls by the pool and italian sports cars
I'm just here in this dump for the game
[Chorus x2]
Ahh, fuck it. Who am I shittin'?
I'm a pitiful sight
And I ain't all that bright
I'm definitly not chisled from stone
I'm a cheat and a liar
No women's desire
I'll probably die cold and alone
But just give me a chance
Cause deep down inside
I swear I got a big heart of gold
I'm a monoganous man
No more one night stands
Come on, honey, let me take you home
[Chorus x4]
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Fast Car
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Its all about talking yourself up while you are shit faced and trying to hook up with some girls.