"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.
From Hank to Hendrix
I walked these streets with you
Here I am with this old guitar
Doin' what I do
I always expected
That you should see me through
I never believed in much
But I believed in you
Can we get it together
Can we still stand side by side
Can we make it last
Like a musical ride?
From Marilyn to Madonna
I always loved your smile
Now we're headed for the big divorce
California-style
I found myself singin'
Like a long-lost friend
The same thing that makes you live
Can kill you in the end
Can we get it together
Can we still stand side by side
Can we make it last
Like a musical ride?
Sometimes it's distorted
Not clear to you
Sometimes the beauty of love
Just comes ringin' through
New glass in the window
New leaf on the tree
New distance between us
You and me
Can we get it together
Can we still walk side by side
Can we make it last
Like a musical ride?
I walked these streets with you
Here I am with this old guitar
Doin' what I do
I always expected
That you should see me through
I never believed in much
But I believed in you
Can we get it together
Can we still stand side by side
Can we make it last
Like a musical ride?
From Marilyn to Madonna
I always loved your smile
Now we're headed for the big divorce
California-style
I found myself singin'
Like a long-lost friend
The same thing that makes you live
Can kill you in the end
Can we get it together
Can we still stand side by side
Can we make it last
Like a musical ride?
Sometimes it's distorted
Not clear to you
Sometimes the beauty of love
Just comes ringin' through
New glass in the window
New leaf on the tree
New distance between us
You and me
Can we get it together
Can we still walk side by side
Can we make it last
Like a musical ride?
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Fast Car
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@mossyoak83 actually it's important to the song. It's literally in the lyrics. "From Maryln to Madonna" "Headed for the big divorce California style"