"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 get up in the morning
Drink a cup of coffee
I look out of the window
I try to get it started
I turn it all over
Plow it all under
I plant 'em in the springtime
Pick 'em in the summer
I live in my own mind
Ain't nothin but a good time
No rain just the sunshine
Out here in my own mind
I live where I can breathe
Ain't nothin but a cool breeze
Nobody that it won't please
Out here where I can breathe
Randy and Danny Ray
They'll show back up any day
That's one thing you can count on
But sometimes they'll be long gone
I'd rather be hunting
Hooked on fishing
I read it on their t-shirts
And if you don't believe it
I live in my own mind
Ain't nothin but a good time
No rain just the sunshine
Out here in my own mind
I live where I can breathe
Ain't nothin but a cool breeze
Nobody that it won't please
Out here where I can breathe
Hardwood floor creakin'
Bedroom door squeakin'
She's standing in the kitchen
I thought that she'd still be sleepin'
Kiss her on the forehead
Asked her how she slept
She says, 'honey, it's so early
Probably shouldn't speak yet'
I live in my own mind
Ain't nothin but a good time
No rain just the sunshine
Out here in my own mind
I live where I can breathe
Ain't nothin but a cool breeze
Nobody that it won't please
Out here where I can breathe
Drink a cup of coffee
I look out of the window
I try to get it started
I turn it all over
Plow it all under
I plant 'em in the springtime
Pick 'em in the summer
I live in my own mind
Ain't nothin but a good time
No rain just the sunshine
Out here in my own mind
I live where I can breathe
Ain't nothin but a cool breeze
Nobody that it won't please
Out here where I can breathe
Randy and Danny Ray
They'll show back up any day
That's one thing you can count on
But sometimes they'll be long gone
I'd rather be hunting
Hooked on fishing
I read it on their t-shirts
And if you don't believe it
I live in my own mind
Ain't nothin but a good time
No rain just the sunshine
Out here in my own mind
I live where I can breathe
Ain't nothin but a cool breeze
Nobody that it won't please
Out here where I can breathe
Hardwood floor creakin'
Bedroom door squeakin'
She's standing in the kitchen
I thought that she'd still be sleepin'
Kiss her on the forehead
Asked her how she slept
She says, 'honey, it's so early
Probably shouldn't speak yet'
I live in my own mind
Ain't nothin but a good time
No rain just the sunshine
Out here in my own mind
I live where I can breathe
Ain't nothin but a cool breeze
Nobody that it won't please
Out here where I can breathe
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Fast Car
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song shows how down to earth he is. This is the perfect song for a summer day out in nature.
Tmo2199, you may be right, but I think the song is deeper than that. I just can't decide if he's singing about the man getting alzheimers, or the man is depressed/in denial about the deaths of Randy and Danny Ray. I'm probably overthinking it though. Love the song regardless.