"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.
and they would follow you home)
(until we wind up dead)
(checking your pulse)
(we'd wait across the street)
(under our tree)
(outside the front door)
(in autumns blind embrace)
(but you wouldn't let her anyway and we run)
(and we framed these moments)
(till one remaining cold calculated thought)
today your dream is dead
and when you wake it won't be there
today your dream is dead
and sew that smile up with threads
embrace this hope
and let it flow
you failed it
to shy to know your worth
hurt from insensitive behavior
you're scared of what this really is
and where this might lead us next
don't let me go I feel it
(it grabbed us by the throat)
(it grabbed us by the throat and we continue to breathe)
it's how I feel about love
that it's not worth it
(your license) i
n failure dreams fall
pushing nightmares over pavement
walking these streets like a victim
writing death threats in the wet cement
you say I will lie
and let me win this life
you won't regret my love
make you happy at your best
you'd noticed all of this meaningless
I destroy you
even through
the only things that I have left for your
condescending eyes looking at each others
white lies my heart ache is useless
so quickly we'll address the shadows running
from light
It'll take this breathe
denying what is left of us
if you could just wake up tonight
I'd be with you under the sky with you tonight
(until we wind up dead)
(checking your pulse)
(we'd wait across the street)
(under our tree)
(outside the front door)
(in autumns blind embrace)
(but you wouldn't let her anyway and we run)
(and we framed these moments)
(till one remaining cold calculated thought)
today your dream is dead
and when you wake it won't be there
today your dream is dead
and sew that smile up with threads
embrace this hope
and let it flow
you failed it
to shy to know your worth
hurt from insensitive behavior
you're scared of what this really is
and where this might lead us next
don't let me go I feel it
(it grabbed us by the throat)
(it grabbed us by the throat and we continue to breathe)
it's how I feel about love
that it's not worth it
(your license) i
n failure dreams fall
pushing nightmares over pavement
walking these streets like a victim
writing death threats in the wet cement
you say I will lie
and let me win this life
you won't regret my love
make you happy at your best
you'd noticed all of this meaningless
I destroy you
even through
the only things that I have left for your
condescending eyes looking at each others
white lies my heart ache is useless
so quickly we'll address the shadows running
from light
It'll take this breathe
denying what is left of us
if you could just wake up tonight
I'd be with you under the sky with you tonight
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why does everyone think that every single one of their flippin' songs has to do with Johnny ?! wth, i'm sure they have better things to do than make whole albums about him. c'mon people, open up your minds a little bit.
from: "and let me win this life you won't regret my love"
to: "It'll take this breathe denying what is left of us"
i'm pretty sure i agree with moretop10.