"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.
The pennies on my eyes have just been lifted
Into drive, my gear's been shifted
You're blinded while I cruise along
And the radio plays that familiar song
I-I-I-I I think I love you
Oh! the pain
I-I-I-I I think I love you
With all of my brain
Since I met you girl my heart's on fire
Endless days and nights you lead me to perspire
My pulse is beating fast, my pressure's getting higher
It's liable to explode in fountains of desire
When I met you girl I was feeling blue
Hanging around in life's ugly zoo
Then you picked me up and you dusted me down
When you ain't around girl - it's no fun
I-I-I-I I think I love you
Oooooh! the pain
I-I-I-I I think I love you
With all of my brain
I think - I think - I think
I think - I think - I think I love you
I think I love you.
Into drive, my gear's been shifted
You're blinded while I cruise along
And the radio plays that familiar song
I-I-I-I I think I love you
Oh! the pain
I-I-I-I I think I love you
With all of my brain
Since I met you girl my heart's on fire
Endless days and nights you lead me to perspire
My pulse is beating fast, my pressure's getting higher
It's liable to explode in fountains of desire
When I met you girl I was feeling blue
Hanging around in life's ugly zoo
Then you picked me up and you dusted me down
When you ain't around girl - it's no fun
I-I-I-I I think I love you
Oooooh! the pain
I-I-I-I I think I love you
With all of my brain
I think - I think - I think
I think - I think - I think I love you
I think I love you.
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