"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.
So I thought I would write
To see how you have been
To fill you in on my day
And how I spend the time now
You remember that book you sent
Well, I really should have known
That you might grow as I've grown
Together yet alone
I was working my weeks
Meeting somebody else's goals
Took a good look around
Just a part of a melting whole
Exit or pay toll
But I don't want this
I don't need this
I don't understand at all
But I'm halfway back to feelin good
I remember the way
The choices came to me
And every day came naturally
And summers came in June
But the feelings that slowly turned
Well I really can't recall
Just when I fell did you fall
Or find love after all?
Crazy now as it seems
I go swimming on Saturdays
Past the young urban dreams
That the businesses preach today
Have started me to say
That I don't want this
I don't need this
I don't understand at all
I don't take time
I don't make time
I don't answer every call
And I don't feel right
I don't sleep tight
I don't love it like I should
But I'm halfway back to feelin good
Lately I love to drive
Into the countryside
The many ways that I've tried
To get things off my mind
But there's nothing by chance, indeed
And you need not wish me well
Just don't tell and I won't tell
Or sound the broken bell
On the last time I left
I locked doors and forgot the lines
Now I'm fading the blues
Drawing circles on classifieds
I'm twentysome and doing just fine
But I don't want this
I don't need this
I don't understand at all
I don't take time
I don't make time
I don't answer every call
And I don't feel right
I don't sleep tight
I don't love it like I should
Am I halfway gone?
You know I don't feel right
I don't sleep tight
I really don't love it like I should
But I'm halfway back to feelin good
To see how you have been
To fill you in on my day
And how I spend the time now
You remember that book you sent
Well, I really should have known
That you might grow as I've grown
Together yet alone
I was working my weeks
Meeting somebody else's goals
Took a good look around
Just a part of a melting whole
Exit or pay toll
But I don't want this
I don't need this
I don't understand at all
But I'm halfway back to feelin good
I remember the way
The choices came to me
And every day came naturally
And summers came in June
But the feelings that slowly turned
Well I really can't recall
Just when I fell did you fall
Or find love after all?
Crazy now as it seems
I go swimming on Saturdays
Past the young urban dreams
That the businesses preach today
Have started me to say
That I don't want this
I don't need this
I don't understand at all
I don't take time
I don't make time
I don't answer every call
And I don't feel right
I don't sleep tight
I don't love it like I should
But I'm halfway back to feelin good
Lately I love to drive
Into the countryside
The many ways that I've tried
To get things off my mind
But there's nothing by chance, indeed
And you need not wish me well
Just don't tell and I won't tell
Or sound the broken bell
On the last time I left
I locked doors and forgot the lines
Now I'm fading the blues
Drawing circles on classifieds
I'm twentysome and doing just fine
But I don't want this
I don't need this
I don't understand at all
I don't take time
I don't make time
I don't answer every call
And I don't feel right
I don't sleep tight
I don't love it like I should
Am I halfway gone?
You know I don't feel right
I don't sleep tight
I really don't love it like I should
But I'm halfway back to feelin good
Lyrics submitted by pnkseashel
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Fast Car
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