"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.
Caller 10 with the loudest cry
for missing an act of fate you and I
end up where we're not supposed to
We all have a match
if we can make the connection
So when your time comes
make sure you're paying attention to it
She's sitting on the other side
He sees her as he's walking by
Oh no there's a chair ahead
and he falls down, his face is red
And she laughs and goes back to work
And for him it's no surprise
Oh no she lost her chance
because she didn't catch his eyes
Caller 10 with the loudest cry
for missing an act of fate you and I
end up where we're not supposed to
We all have a match
if we can make the connection
So when your time comes
make sure you're paying attention to it
You gotta keep your eyes so open wide
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
Because you never know when lost becomes found
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
He works and she goes to class
So there's no time to get attached
Both looking our their windows
He says, "Someday I'll find you"
And the years go flying by
One day they park side by side
They have black ? both the same
Down to ?
Caller 10 with the loudest cry
for missing an act of fate you and I
end up where we're not supposed to
We all have a match
if we can make the connection
You've gotta pay attention
You've got to pay attention to it
You gotta keep your eyes so open wide (wide)
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
Because you never know when lost becomes found
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
He walks away
She walks away
Outside by the deli, please take a number (he walks away)
This represents them both with 37s
Her cell phone rings and he says, "hey, (she walks away)
I've had that song in my head all day"
She runs to the front door
She looks so familiar (he walks away)
She scared not to answer, her boyfriend that hits her
Now back to her home life, it doesn't deserve her (she walks away)
She should have payed attention
Maybe fate can only take you so far
Keep your eyes so open wide (wide)
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
Because you never know when lost becomes found
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
Keep your eyes so open wide (wide)
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
Because you never know when lost becomes found
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
every which way you go
for missing an act of fate you and I
end up where we're not supposed to
We all have a match
if we can make the connection
So when your time comes
make sure you're paying attention to it
She's sitting on the other side
He sees her as he's walking by
Oh no there's a chair ahead
and he falls down, his face is red
And she laughs and goes back to work
And for him it's no surprise
Oh no she lost her chance
because she didn't catch his eyes
Caller 10 with the loudest cry
for missing an act of fate you and I
end up where we're not supposed to
We all have a match
if we can make the connection
So when your time comes
make sure you're paying attention to it
You gotta keep your eyes so open wide
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
Because you never know when lost becomes found
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
He works and she goes to class
So there's no time to get attached
Both looking our their windows
He says, "Someday I'll find you"
And the years go flying by
One day they park side by side
They have black ? both the same
Down to ?
Caller 10 with the loudest cry
for missing an act of fate you and I
end up where we're not supposed to
We all have a match
if we can make the connection
You've gotta pay attention
You've got to pay attention to it
You gotta keep your eyes so open wide (wide)
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
Because you never know when lost becomes found
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
He walks away
She walks away
Outside by the deli, please take a number (he walks away)
This represents them both with 37s
Her cell phone rings and he says, "hey, (she walks away)
I've had that song in my head all day"
She runs to the front door
She looks so familiar (he walks away)
She scared not to answer, her boyfriend that hits her
Now back to her home life, it doesn't deserve her (she walks away)
She should have payed attention
Maybe fate can only take you so far
Keep your eyes so open wide (wide)
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
Because you never know when lost becomes found
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
Keep your eyes so open wide (wide)
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
Because you never know when lost becomes found
Look left to right, look up and down, turn around
every which way you go
Lyrics submitted by BrandNew1208
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The line 'Maybe fate can take you so far' means the most to me. the song means you have to keep your eyes open and keep looking because your soulmate could be right in front of you and you wouldnt even know it. and fate can only take you to the person (fate can only take you so far) but you have to be the one to realize that the person could be your soul mate. I had the privlige of seeing them live and then i really realized the meaning of this song. if u havent seen them live yet then do it there amazing.