"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 saw a pattern
On a china plate
And the train of thought it triggered off
Got me in a state
Just a crack of sunlight
In the shape of a heart
A real work of art
So now you think I've lost it
What was left of the plot
You think I'm going to start spreading the news
Well I tell you I'm not
There's no hallelujahs
I just killed that clown
With the king Kong frown
With the king Kong frown
You told me one day
The wind will change
And if I don't watch out
My face is gonna stay this way
Well darlin' I won't let you down
I was only joking, just messin' around
With the king Kong frown
With the king Kong frown
Well they took me off the Empire State
And they put me in a cage
They locked me up and left me there
With a female half my age
Is it any wonder
It kind of wore me out?
I was looking for rain clouds
And then the sun came out
Now I've got nothing
To complain about
I got you babe
And the boys in the Lounge
And no King Kong frown
No King Kong frown
No King Kong frown
No King Kong frown
And all the white boys sing
Doo, de doo
On a china plate
And the train of thought it triggered off
Got me in a state
Just a crack of sunlight
In the shape of a heart
A real work of art
So now you think I've lost it
What was left of the plot
You think I'm going to start spreading the news
Well I tell you I'm not
There's no hallelujahs
I just killed that clown
With the king Kong frown
With the king Kong frown
You told me one day
The wind will change
And if I don't watch out
My face is gonna stay this way
Well darlin' I won't let you down
I was only joking, just messin' around
With the king Kong frown
With the king Kong frown
Well they took me off the Empire State
And they put me in a cage
They locked me up and left me there
With a female half my age
Is it any wonder
It kind of wore me out?
I was looking for rain clouds
And then the sun came out
Now I've got nothing
To complain about
I got you babe
And the boys in the Lounge
And no King Kong frown
No King Kong frown
No King Kong frown
No King Kong frown
And all the white boys sing
Doo, de doo
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Fast Car
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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