"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.
Dust dust dust dust
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
I was snow white til I started to drift
Baby I didn't care, til I saw you there
And your manner made my animal kick
But I just didn't dare
Call me crazy yeah
Everything I ever had to lose
Is standing in the way of me and you
Panic built these walls in front of me
And nothing but my head can set me free
Man get up
We're gonna start this fire
Tangled up
Because I know I should
Can't get up
Watch the flames go higher
Tangled up
We're gonna need more wood
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
Dust dust dust dust
I'll confess I'm in a real big mess
With the guy I love but I can't say yes
Now my only bet is take a plane ride west
Cause I can't regret what I ain't done yet
Man get up
We're gonna start this fire
Tangled up
Because I know I should
Can't get up
Watch the flames go higher
Tangled up
We're gonna need more wood
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
Man with the chemical stare, hands off
Guy with the terrible hair, back off
Dude with the look in your eye, leave it
Man with the beautiful ride, beat it
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
I was snow white til I started to drift
Baby I didn't care, til I saw you there
And your manner made my animal kick
But I just didn't dare
Call me crazy yeah
Everything I ever had to lose
Is standing in the way of me and you
Panic built these walls in front of me
And nothing but my head can set me free
Man get up
We're gonna start this fire
Tangled up
Because I know I should
Can't get up
Watch the flames go higher
Tangled up
We're gonna need more wood
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
Dust dust dust dust
I'll confess I'm in a real big mess
With the guy I love but I can't say yes
Now my only bet is take a plane ride west
Cause I can't regret what I ain't done yet
Man get up
We're gonna start this fire
Tangled up
Because I know I should
Can't get up
Watch the flames go higher
Tangled up
We're gonna need more wood
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
Man with the chemical stare, hands off
Guy with the terrible hair, back off
Dude with the look in your eye, leave it
Man with the beautiful ride, beat it
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Killstar, you're rubbish... more corrections:
Got so close to love I can almost taste the kill BARELY close ENOUGH But I COULD NOT make a deal
I was SNOW WHITE 'til I started to drift Baby I didn't care, 'til I saw you there
Panic BUILT THESE walls in front of me And nothing but my heart can set me free
MAN GET up We're gonna start this fire
I CONFESS I'M in a real big mess With the guy I love but I can't say yes
Oh and as above...