"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.
If I invite danger
It might just do some good for me
Slack jawed little stranger
Slip and shuffle on your feet
If I set a trap
I'll raise suspicion and keep eyes on me
I'll just keep kicking at the cracks
'Til it all falls in on me
Big fat payback bleeding like a smokestack
I'm running
We got a dud pump speed bump
burning like a fuel dump
I'm coming
Don't panic
So come and join my collective
Everyman and woman for themselves
I never felt so well protected
Just hanging up here on the shelf
There's no way I'm turning back
I'm tired of sailing on the same old seas
I'll just keep kicking at the cracks
'Til it all falls in on me
Take a run for the money
Give you something to show
Now we're almost ready and away I go
So go cat go
It might just do some good for me
Slack jawed little stranger
Slip and shuffle on your feet
If I set a trap
I'll raise suspicion and keep eyes on me
I'll just keep kicking at the cracks
'Til it all falls in on me
Big fat payback bleeding like a smokestack
I'm running
We got a dud pump speed bump
burning like a fuel dump
I'm coming
Don't panic
So come and join my collective
Everyman and woman for themselves
I never felt so well protected
Just hanging up here on the shelf
There's no way I'm turning back
I'm tired of sailing on the same old seas
I'll just keep kicking at the cracks
'Til it all falls in on me
Take a run for the money
Give you something to show
Now we're almost ready and away I go
So go cat go
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Fast Car
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wow, no1 has commented. great rhythm, nice and catchy and great guitar work. powderfinger rock