"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.
He captured and collected things
And he put them in a shed
He raised a proper family
So he could tie them to a bed
The creator had a master tape
But he left it in a cab
I stared into the void tonight
The best dream I ever had
He worked himself into the ground
And drove a spike into his head
A voice said "are you happy now?
Your sordid home is running red"
The creator had a master tape
But he left it in a cab
I stared into the void tonight
The best dream I ever had
Pills and chloroform
All the pages torn
Pills and chloroform
All the pages torn
Pills and chloroform
All the pages torn
And he put them in a shed
He raised a proper family
So he could tie them to a bed
The creator had a master tape
But he left it in a cab
I stared into the void tonight
The best dream I ever had
He worked himself into the ground
And drove a spike into his head
A voice said "are you happy now?
Your sordid home is running red"
The creator had a master tape
But he left it in a cab
I stared into the void tonight
The best dream I ever had
Pills and chloroform
All the pages torn
Pills and chloroform
All the pages torn
Pills and chloroform
All the pages torn
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This song seems to be about the thoughts of the serial killer in question as he's actually committing the atrocious acts. The overall 'feel' of the song lends to this notion as well.