"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.
Moved out, can't go back
And it's cold out, but I've got a place lined up to crash.
I know I'm lucky to say that.
Someday soon I may not be so lucky.
It's cold out, but it's warm in your arms
And right now, I can't ask for anything more
but you just keep giving me more.
Someday soon I may not be so lucky.
Sometimes it's so easy to see
but most times I don't bother looking
And sometimes it's ringing in my ears
like bells or something.
It's bright out with the sun off the snow
When I breathe out, I can see my breath.
And my heart's beating strong in my chest.
Someday soon I may not be so lucky.
It's hard now
It feels like everything to slowed down.
There's so many places I wish I could be.
So many friends that I wish I could see
and I know I'm lucky.
Sometimes it's so easy to see
but most times I don't bother looking
And sometimes it's ringing in my ears
like bells or something.
And it's cold out, but I've got a place lined up to crash.
I know I'm lucky to say that.
Someday soon I may not be so lucky.
It's cold out, but it's warm in your arms
And right now, I can't ask for anything more
but you just keep giving me more.
Someday soon I may not be so lucky.
Sometimes it's so easy to see
but most times I don't bother looking
And sometimes it's ringing in my ears
like bells or something.
It's bright out with the sun off the snow
When I breathe out, I can see my breath.
And my heart's beating strong in my chest.
Someday soon I may not be so lucky.
It's hard now
It feels like everything to slowed down.
There's so many places I wish I could be.
So many friends that I wish I could see
and I know I'm lucky.
Sometimes it's so easy to see
but most times I don't bother looking
And sometimes it's ringing in my ears
like bells or something.
Lyrics submitted by DakotaFloyd
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