"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've done everything as you say
I followed your rules without question
I thought it would help me see things clearly
But instead of helping me to see
I look around and its like I'm blinded
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
(go)Where should go
(do)What should I do
I don't understand what you want from me
(go)Cuz I don't know (do) if I can trust you
I don't understand what you want from me
I feel like I'm spinning out of control
I try to focus but everythings twisted
And all along I thought you would be there (thought you would be there)
So let me know I'm not alone
But in fact that's exactly what I was
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
(go)Where should go
(do)What should I do
I don't understand what you want from me
(go)Cuz I don't know (do) if I can trust you
Or the things you said to me
And I may never know
The answer to this endless mystery
(go) Where should I go
(do)What should I do
I don't understand what you want from me
Is it a mystery?
Is it a mystery?
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control
(go)Where should I go
(do) what should I do
I don't understand what you want from me
(go) 'cause I don't know (do) if I can trust you
Or all of the things you said to me
And I may never know the answer to this endless mystery
(go)Where should I go
(do)What should I do
I don't understand what you want from me
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I followed your rules without question
I thought it would help me see things clearly
But instead of helping me to see
I look around and its like I'm blinded
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
(go)Where should go
(do)What should I do
I don't understand what you want from me
(go)Cuz I don't know (do) if I can trust you
I don't understand what you want from me
I feel like I'm spinning out of control
I try to focus but everythings twisted
And all along I thought you would be there (thought you would be there)
So let me know I'm not alone
But in fact that's exactly what I was
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
(go)Where should go
(do)What should I do
I don't understand what you want from me
(go)Cuz I don't know (do) if I can trust you
Or the things you said to me
And I may never know
The answer to this endless mystery
(go) Where should I go
(do)What should I do
I don't understand what you want from me
Is it a mystery?
Is it a mystery?
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control
(go)Where should I go
(do) what should I do
I don't understand what you want from me
(go) 'cause I don't know (do) if I can trust you
Or all of the things you said to me
And I may never know the answer to this endless mystery
(go)Where should I go
(do)What should I do
I don't understand what you want from me
I'm spinning out of control out of control
I'm spinning out of control out of control
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Fast Car
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