"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.
Now, you may see two happy people
In love and together
I'll tell you why that is
Or some little girl
Looks real good in a real tight sweater
I will tell you why that is
Now, your pals from prison
Just wrote you a real fine letter
I'll tell you why that is
And a diamond ring looks real good
On my pinky finger, yeah
I will tell you
(You'll tell me)
Why that is
(Alright)
An apple ain't orange
But an orange is
I can tell you why that is
Some people are day...
(And some people are night)
...Night people
I will tell you why that's right
When the girls come lookin' for love, mmhmm
They look for the guys in the band
(The man knows a lot of things)
I'll tell you why that is
I'm having a ball being a know it all
Staying on top of my little scam
That's why I am who I am, baby
'Cause I know all these things
So stop right up and shake the hand of the man
Who admits to know it all
I know a lot of things
Besides that, I can sing...
Well, how come you think I've got the name know it all?
(Frankly, I don't know)
You think that's just a fluke?
I don't think so
(Could be)
Well I, I know why everything's happening
You stick around, well, I'll tell you why
(Yeah, alright)
Now you see some guys out on the street
And they're just wild about chicks
I'll tell you why that is
Son of a gun dirty boys
Just like to go out and play dirty tricks
But I can tell you why that is
I know why that is
And Jesus Christ and God and all them cats
They don't know anything
And besides that, they can't even sing
Rich man get all the women and fun
And would you believe you're looking at one?
That's why I am who I am, baby
'Cause I know all these things
I'm willing to listen to you
If you're willing to listen to me
(Well, alright, that's for sure)
But you know, you gotta sing it for me again
You gotta get up and sing
In love and together
I'll tell you why that is
Or some little girl
Looks real good in a real tight sweater
I will tell you why that is
Now, your pals from prison
Just wrote you a real fine letter
I'll tell you why that is
And a diamond ring looks real good
On my pinky finger, yeah
I will tell you
(You'll tell me)
Why that is
(Alright)
An apple ain't orange
But an orange is
I can tell you why that is
Some people are day...
(And some people are night)
...Night people
I will tell you why that's right
When the girls come lookin' for love, mmhmm
They look for the guys in the band
(The man knows a lot of things)
I'll tell you why that is
I'm having a ball being a know it all
Staying on top of my little scam
That's why I am who I am, baby
'Cause I know all these things
So stop right up and shake the hand of the man
Who admits to know it all
I know a lot of things
Besides that, I can sing...
Well, how come you think I've got the name know it all?
(Frankly, I don't know)
You think that's just a fluke?
I don't think so
(Could be)
Well I, I know why everything's happening
You stick around, well, I'll tell you why
(Yeah, alright)
Now you see some guys out on the street
And they're just wild about chicks
I'll tell you why that is
Son of a gun dirty boys
Just like to go out and play dirty tricks
But I can tell you why that is
I know why that is
And Jesus Christ and God and all them cats
They don't know anything
And besides that, they can't even sing
Rich man get all the women and fun
And would you believe you're looking at one?
That's why I am who I am, baby
'Cause I know all these things
I'm willing to listen to you
If you're willing to listen to me
(Well, alright, that's for sure)
But you know, you gotta sing it for me again
You gotta get up and sing
Lyrics submitted by delial
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