"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.
It's all over Idaho
We're kickin' up your dust
And burning up your gasoline
And every one of us has bugs
Crawling through our veins
We can't pretend to be clear and free
So who will be the next to run?
Our guide walked off to die
And left us with no warning
And nothing to swallow but the stars
Now I see him everywhere
In each unshaven refugee
Nursing last night's fire
Who will be the next to run?
Who will be the next
To bail on out of this ride
And leave us dry?
We're kickin' up your dust
And burning up your gasoline
And every one of us has bugs
Crawling through our veins
We can't pretend to be clear and free
So who will be the next to run?
Our guide walked off to die
And left us with no warning
And nothing to swallow but the stars
Now I see him everywhere
In each unshaven refugee
Nursing last night's fire
Who will be the next to run?
Who will be the next
To bail on out of this ride
And leave us dry?
Lyrics submitted by kirbsta
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Such a great song. I saw these guys live at Pearl Street in Northampton, MA with Acid Mothers Temple.
Amazing concert. Two amazing bands.
These guys are great live.