"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 guess you've seen me here when I come around
Face in my beer, I never make a sound
I'd really love to talk, but the fear gets in the way
And I've got a lot more that I've got to fear than I could ever say
Then I see you cry, like some desperate child alone
I see you stare, and he doesn't even know how he makes you feel
And even if he did he'd never let it show
Try to smile, 'cause it doesn't really matter, no
I've sorta got my body, kinda got my mind
Played in a band in the days behind
I really loved to play, but the beer got in the way
'Cause I had a lot more that I had to fear than I could ever say
Then I see you cry, like some desperate child alone
I see you stare, and he doesn't even know how he makes you feel
And even if he did he'd never let it show
Try to smile, 'cause it doesn't really matter, no
I'm not gonna fade without a fight
(I'm not gonna fade without a fight)
And I'm gonna hold you when you cry
(We'll be together, you and I)
Well, I'll be beside you, you'll be alright
But I don't feel up to telling you tonight
No, I don't feel up to telling you tonight
Clearing my tab, guess it's time to go
Wrap myself up tight for the bitter walk home
I try to say goodbye, but a tear gets in the way
And as the years go flying by, I guess I'll wait another day
Can't you see me cry, like some desperate child alone
Can't you see me stare, and you'll never even know how you make me feel
And even if you did you'd never let it show
Try to smile, 'cause it doesn't really matter
I'm not gonna fade without a fight
(I'm not gonna fade without a fight)
You're gonna hold me when I cry
(You're gonna hold me when I cry)
I'm not gonna fade without a fight
(I'm not gonna fade without a fight)
You're gonna hold me when I cry
(We'll be together, you and I)
You'll be beside me, I'll be alright
But I don't feel up to telling you tonight
No, I don't feel up to telling you tonight
Tonight...
Face in my beer, I never make a sound
I'd really love to talk, but the fear gets in the way
And I've got a lot more that I've got to fear than I could ever say
Then I see you cry, like some desperate child alone
I see you stare, and he doesn't even know how he makes you feel
And even if he did he'd never let it show
Try to smile, 'cause it doesn't really matter, no
I've sorta got my body, kinda got my mind
Played in a band in the days behind
I really loved to play, but the beer got in the way
'Cause I had a lot more that I had to fear than I could ever say
Then I see you cry, like some desperate child alone
I see you stare, and he doesn't even know how he makes you feel
And even if he did he'd never let it show
Try to smile, 'cause it doesn't really matter, no
I'm not gonna fade without a fight
(I'm not gonna fade without a fight)
And I'm gonna hold you when you cry
(We'll be together, you and I)
Well, I'll be beside you, you'll be alright
But I don't feel up to telling you tonight
No, I don't feel up to telling you tonight
Clearing my tab, guess it's time to go
Wrap myself up tight for the bitter walk home
I try to say goodbye, but a tear gets in the way
And as the years go flying by, I guess I'll wait another day
Can't you see me cry, like some desperate child alone
Can't you see me stare, and you'll never even know how you make me feel
And even if you did you'd never let it show
Try to smile, 'cause it doesn't really matter
I'm not gonna fade without a fight
(I'm not gonna fade without a fight)
You're gonna hold me when I cry
(You're gonna hold me when I cry)
I'm not gonna fade without a fight
(I'm not gonna fade without a fight)
You're gonna hold me when I cry
(We'll be together, you and I)
You'll be beside me, I'll be alright
But I don't feel up to telling you tonight
No, I don't feel up to telling you tonight
Tonight...
Lyrics submitted by wenchly
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