"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.
ALL IS NUMB
C?mon drift away through fundamental boundaries
To find ourselves surrounding
The ones who?ve already gone and come back stronger
All is numb
I?ve been lost too long
My fate?s been mistakenly chosen
All is numb
Yeah I?ve done you wrong
My fate?s been mistakenly chosen
Here you?ll stay
Where lies are spread wide open
And ties are not so strong
That place you?ll never find me
I?ve already gone
{chorus}
I guess my thinking too much is what?s been fuckin? me up
It?s my own worst enemy, but
It will never own me?
Who am I kidding anyway?
{chorus}
C?mon drift away through fundamental boundaries
To find ourselves surrounding
The ones who?ve already gone and come back stronger
All is numb
I?ve been lost too long
My fate?s been mistakenly chosen
All is numb
Yeah I?ve done you wrong
My fate?s been mistakenly chosen
Here you?ll stay
Where lies are spread wide open
And ties are not so strong
That place you?ll never find me
I?ve already gone
{chorus}
I guess my thinking too much is what?s been fuckin? me up
It?s my own worst enemy, but
It will never own me?
Who am I kidding anyway?
{chorus}
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Fast Car
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I think the guy lost his true love over something beyond his control and he fights to reunite himself to the one and only. He's numb from the battle and his fate was not judged on his wellbeing.