"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.
Do you know what the gospel is,
The gospel means good news.
Good news for you, and you my friend,
So listen and don't refuse.
Just listen to His Word, to His Word
And you'll see that Jesus Christ came
To make you free.
There was a child named Jesus
Born of Virgin birth
In the city of David, though His home
Was not of this world.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity
He came as the light into the world
Through Him all men might see.
The spirit of the Lord was upon Him,
And He preached the good news to the poor.
He said blessed are you poor in spirit,
For the Kingdom of Heaven is yours.
Do you see your need for Him as I did,
Do you see that Jesus Christ came
To make you free?
He healed the sick and he raised the dead,
And set free those who were oppressed.
He said come to me all who are weary,
And I will give you rest.
He spoke of Heaven and He spoke of Hell,
And He urged all men to repent.
To give His live as a ransom for all
Was the reason He was sent.
But He was despised and forsaken of man,
A man of sorrow and grief.
Fulfilling the words that were spoken of Him,
They pierced His hands and His feet.
On the cross He died for them, died for you,
Died for me, Jesus Christ died to set us free.
And so this is the good news for you,
That Jesus Christ can save.
The power of death couldn't hold my Lord,
He rose from the grave.
And He is alive for evermore
And forever is able to save.
Those who draw near to God through Him,
He's the life the truth and the way.
The gospel means good news.
Good news for you, and you my friend,
So listen and don't refuse.
Just listen to His Word, to His Word
And you'll see that Jesus Christ came
To make you free.
There was a child named Jesus
Born of Virgin birth
In the city of David, though His home
Was not of this world.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity
He came as the light into the world
Through Him all men might see.
The spirit of the Lord was upon Him,
And He preached the good news to the poor.
He said blessed are you poor in spirit,
For the Kingdom of Heaven is yours.
Do you see your need for Him as I did,
Do you see that Jesus Christ came
To make you free?
He healed the sick and he raised the dead,
And set free those who were oppressed.
He said come to me all who are weary,
And I will give you rest.
He spoke of Heaven and He spoke of Hell,
And He urged all men to repent.
To give His live as a ransom for all
Was the reason He was sent.
But He was despised and forsaken of man,
A man of sorrow and grief.
Fulfilling the words that were spoken of Him,
They pierced His hands and His feet.
On the cross He died for them, died for you,
Died for me, Jesus Christ died to set us free.
And so this is the good news for you,
That Jesus Christ can save.
The power of death couldn't hold my Lord,
He rose from the grave.
And He is alive for evermore
And forever is able to save.
Those who draw near to God through Him,
He's the life the truth and the way.
Lyrics submitted by ThreeMilesDown
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