"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.
Your socks on the wood floor
the moment I'd hoped for
I'm terrified to think you might be real
I curl up behind you
fit my body to yours like a shell
I smell your hair, oh love, I can't believe you
I squeeze you to make sure you're really here and I'm overwhelmed
[CHORUS]
I've been waiting for so long
to touch you and sleep in yours eyes
and now as my heart's beating so hard
I hold on and keep you at home in my arms
They tried to console me
but you're all the consolation I ever needed
years of smelling the clothes you left behind
The photographs that seemed so far away
I don't need them now-you turn to me alive, awake, and blinking, baby
"Back so soon?" you ask, but I smile 'cause I never left at all
[CHORUS]
You check the clock, it's time to go
You grab your keeps and you're out the door
I step outside and you're waving goodbye
It's all happening again like before
as you're starting the car and I'm tearing inside
I knock on your window, you stop just in time
Around to the other side
I say, "Baby, I thought I'd come along for the ride."
I've been waiting for so long
(Time slows, and I take your hand)
to touch you and sleep in your eyes
(I hold you as we lose control)
Together our hearts beating so hard
Hold on, baby, we're almost home. . .
the moment I'd hoped for
I'm terrified to think you might be real
I curl up behind you
fit my body to yours like a shell
I smell your hair, oh love, I can't believe you
I squeeze you to make sure you're really here and I'm overwhelmed
[CHORUS]
I've been waiting for so long
to touch you and sleep in yours eyes
and now as my heart's beating so hard
I hold on and keep you at home in my arms
They tried to console me
but you're all the consolation I ever needed
years of smelling the clothes you left behind
The photographs that seemed so far away
I don't need them now-you turn to me alive, awake, and blinking, baby
"Back so soon?" you ask, but I smile 'cause I never left at all
[CHORUS]
You check the clock, it's time to go
You grab your keeps and you're out the door
I step outside and you're waving goodbye
It's all happening again like before
as you're starting the car and I'm tearing inside
I knock on your window, you stop just in time
Around to the other side
I say, "Baby, I thought I'd come along for the ride."
I've been waiting for so long
(Time slows, and I take your hand)
to touch you and sleep in your eyes
(I hold you as we lose control)
Together our hearts beating so hard
Hold on, baby, we're almost home. . .
Lyrics submitted by guitaress, edited by patrick1991
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Fast Car
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