"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 got this feeling, there's something that I missed
(I could do most anything to you)
Don't you breathe, don't you breathe
(I could do most anything to you)
Something happened that I never understood
(I could do most anything to you)
You can't leave, you can't leave
Every second dripping off my finger tips
(I could do most anything to you)
Wage your war, wage your war
(I could do most anything to you)
Another soldier says he's not afraid to die
(I could do most anything to you)
I am scared, I'm so scared
In slow motion the blast is beautiful
(I could do most anything to you)
Doors slam shut, doors slam shut
(I could do most anything to you)
A clock is ticking but it's hidden far away
(I could do most anything to you)
Safe and sound, safe and sound
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
Don't you breathe, don't you breathe
(I could do most anything to you)
Something happened that I never understood
(I could do most anything to you)
You can't leave, you can't leave
Every second dripping off my finger tips
(I could do most anything to you)
Wage your war, wage your war
(I could do most anything to you)
Another soldier says he's not afraid to die
(I could do most anything to you)
I am scared, I'm so scared
In slow motion the blast is beautiful
(I could do most anything to you)
Doors slam shut, doors slam shut
(I could do most anything to you)
A clock is ticking but it's hidden far away
(I could do most anything to you)
Safe and sound, safe and sound
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
(I could do most anything to you)
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Fast Car
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Best Snow Patrol song ever. Absolutely brilliant.