"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.
On returning, I can't believe this world is still turning, The pressure's on, Because the pleasure hasn't gone
And I'm, Not sorry for, For the things I've done
And I'm, Not looking for, Just anyone
On competing, Oh, when will this tired heart stop beating?,
It's all a game, Existence is only a game
And I'm, Not sorry for, For the things I've done
And I'm, Not looking for, Just anyone
I'm, Slipping below the water line, I'm, Slipping below the water line
Reach for my hand, And, And the race is won
Reject my hand, And, The damage is done
I'm, Slipping below the water line
I'm, Slipping below the water line
The woman of my dreams, She, She never came along
The woman of my dreams, Well, There never was one
And I'm, Not sorry for, For the things I've said
There's a wild man in my head, There's a wild man In my head
And I'm, Not sorry for, For the things I've done
And I'm, Not looking for, Just anyone
On competing, Oh, when will this tired heart stop beating?,
It's all a game, Existence is only a game
And I'm, Not sorry for, For the things I've done
And I'm, Not looking for, Just anyone
I'm, Slipping below the water line, I'm, Slipping below the water line
Reach for my hand, And, And the race is won
Reject my hand, And, The damage is done
I'm, Slipping below the water line
I'm, Slipping below the water line
The woman of my dreams, She, She never came along
The woman of my dreams, Well, There never was one
And I'm, Not sorry for, For the things I've said
There's a wild man in my head, There's a wild man In my head
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also it's like he wishes he could go back and have his love of the past save him:
I'm / slipping below the water-line I'm / slipping below the water-line reach for my hand / and and the race is won reject my hand / and the damage is done
also more about current life moving forward:
On competing oh when will this tired heart stop beating? It's all a game existence is only a game