"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.
There's a whole world going on outside
But you've been stuck inside your mind
Do you let fear motivate you
Or does it complicate you
Leaving you a step behind
You're left with no one standing by your side
You try to justify your lies
It starts to agitate you
Don't let this aggravate you
There's no need to apologize
We all need resolution
You can find your way through
There's only one solution
You've gotta find what you're looking for
You've been hiding in that weak disguise
Hoping no one sees your foolish eyes
Don't let that intimidate you
Don't let it separate you
From all the ones who question why
Just keep on reaching for the sky
And you'll find out its not that high
When you let love elevate you
When you let it gravitate you
You're in for the ride of your life
We all need resolution
You can find your way through
There's only one solution
You've gotta find what you're looking for
Don't let the moment pass you
Don't let distractions blind you
Don't let question stop you
Don't let the answers miss you
But you've been stuck inside your mind
Do you let fear motivate you
Or does it complicate you
Leaving you a step behind
You're left with no one standing by your side
You try to justify your lies
It starts to agitate you
Don't let this aggravate you
There's no need to apologize
We all need resolution
You can find your way through
There's only one solution
You've gotta find what you're looking for
You've been hiding in that weak disguise
Hoping no one sees your foolish eyes
Don't let that intimidate you
Don't let it separate you
From all the ones who question why
Just keep on reaching for the sky
And you'll find out its not that high
When you let love elevate you
When you let it gravitate you
You're in for the ride of your life
We all need resolution
You can find your way through
There's only one solution
You've gotta find what you're looking for
Don't let the moment pass you
Don't let distractions blind you
Don't let question stop you
Don't let the answers miss you
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This song is obviously about George Bush and his fascist governemnt. The band members are obviously a bunch of flaming liberal atheists.
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