"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.
Today is too late
How long do we have to wait
Oh no, I think she knows
That's why I can't let go
I feel this burning inside
A feeling that no one should know
This could be so good again
I'd wait here till then
But not with this
So now I'll leave with
No apologies
I never thought you'd be so
Easily deceived
Now I'll just hang my head (falling further out of place)
Along with the dead (don't know what/why I can't replace)
We're mad with regret
Memories that we'll both forget
So far it's been so hard
To cover up these scars
I see this falling apart
It's easy to just let it go
No luck between us both
So I keep waiting
But not with this
So now I'll leave with
No apologies
I never thought you'd be so
Easily deceived
Now I'll just hang my head (falling further out of place)
Along with the dead (don't know what/why I can't replace)
What's left to show
It's so bad but I got to know
What's right don't know
How to find it out on my own
One by one we all fall down
Who's the first one to hit the ground now
What's worse to kick or fall
Or be suss standing alone
Ill keep your promises if you
Take back every thing I said
I find its got so cold now
That I've lost my heart and soul
No apologies
I never thought you'd be so
Easily deceived
Now I'll just hang my head (falling further out of place)
Along with the dead (don't know what/why I can't replace)
I'll just hang my head
Hang my head
How long do we have to wait
Oh no, I think she knows
That's why I can't let go
I feel this burning inside
A feeling that no one should know
This could be so good again
I'd wait here till then
But not with this
So now I'll leave with
No apologies
I never thought you'd be so
Easily deceived
Now I'll just hang my head (falling further out of place)
Along with the dead (don't know what/why I can't replace)
We're mad with regret
Memories that we'll both forget
So far it's been so hard
To cover up these scars
I see this falling apart
It's easy to just let it go
No luck between us both
So I keep waiting
But not with this
So now I'll leave with
No apologies
I never thought you'd be so
Easily deceived
Now I'll just hang my head (falling further out of place)
Along with the dead (don't know what/why I can't replace)
What's left to show
It's so bad but I got to know
What's right don't know
How to find it out on my own
One by one we all fall down
Who's the first one to hit the ground now
What's worse to kick or fall
Or be suss standing alone
Ill keep your promises if you
Take back every thing I said
I find its got so cold now
That I've lost my heart and soul
No apologies
I never thought you'd be so
Easily deceived
Now I'll just hang my head (falling further out of place)
Along with the dead (don't know what/why I can't replace)
I'll just hang my head
Hang my head
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Fast Car
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I concur. My favorite song on Chuck, probably. Most of the album's great, I was very pleased with the outcome of it all.