"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.
Once I was young...
Yesterday, perhaps...
Danced with Jim and Paul
And kissed some other chaps.
Once I was young,
But never was naive.
I thought I had a trick or two
Up my imaginary sleeve.
And now I know I was naive.
I didn't know what time it was
Then I met you.
Oh, what a lovely time it was,
How sublime it was too!
I didn't know what time it was
You hold my hand.
Warm like the month of May it was,
And I'll say it was grand.
Grand to be alive, to be young,
To be mad, to be yours alone!
Grand tosee your face, feel your touch,
Hear your voice say I'm all your own.
I didn't know what time it was
Live was no prize.
I wanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes.
I'm wise,
And I know what time it is now.
Once I was old --
Twenty years or so --
Rather well preserved:
The wrinkles did't show.
Once I was old,
But not too old for fun.
I used to hunt for little girls
Up my immaginary gun.
But now I ain for only one!
I didn't know what time it was
Then I met you.
Oh, what a lovely time it was,
How sublime it was too!
I didn't know what time it was
You hold my hand.
Warm like the month of May it was,
And I'll say it was grand.
Grand to be alive, to be young,
To be mad, to be yours alone!
Grand tosee your face, feel your touch,
Hear your voice say I'm all your own.
I didn't know what time it was
Live was no prize.
I whanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes.
I'm wise,
And I know what time it is now.
Yesterday, perhaps...
Danced with Jim and Paul
And kissed some other chaps.
Once I was young,
But never was naive.
I thought I had a trick or two
Up my imaginary sleeve.
And now I know I was naive.
I didn't know what time it was
Then I met you.
Oh, what a lovely time it was,
How sublime it was too!
I didn't know what time it was
You hold my hand.
Warm like the month of May it was,
And I'll say it was grand.
Grand to be alive, to be young,
To be mad, to be yours alone!
Grand tosee your face, feel your touch,
Hear your voice say I'm all your own.
I didn't know what time it was
Live was no prize.
I wanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes.
I'm wise,
And I know what time it is now.
Once I was old --
Twenty years or so --
Rather well preserved:
The wrinkles did't show.
Once I was old,
But not too old for fun.
I used to hunt for little girls
Up my immaginary gun.
But now I ain for only one!
I didn't know what time it was
Then I met you.
Oh, what a lovely time it was,
How sublime it was too!
I didn't know what time it was
You hold my hand.
Warm like the month of May it was,
And I'll say it was grand.
Grand to be alive, to be young,
To be mad, to be yours alone!
Grand tosee your face, feel your touch,
Hear your voice say I'm all your own.
I didn't know what time it was
Live was no prize.
I whanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes.
I'm wise,
And I know what time it is now.
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
I Didn't Know What Time It Was Lyrics as written by Richard Rodgers Lorenz Hart
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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