"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.
I'm so tired of hearing tales of coming news
Telling tales of a changing sky
It's just a shame I didn't notice you
Till someone I loved had to die
What made us think that this was so different
Who is driving behind those things you say
Why do you insult me and my friends
Who are my friends anyway
I've spent my life lying now I pay the price
Are these really words of a young man or a worthless human life
I don't mean to scare you with the things I say
I take it back, yes it's a beautiful day
I watched you from the beach when your ship sailed
You made it clear that nothing stays the same
It's getting darker I wonder if you can tell
I wonder when all that changed
You never used to let me go unfed
I was so distracted I never saw the rain
You promised you meant every word you said
I wonder when all that changed
It hurts so bad to hear such pretty words coming from somebody like you
I've been looking for so long that I've lost touch
With what's the best something to do
I've got a friend who makes good choices
Everybody likes the way that he sees things
I've got a problem and it walks me daily
Can't you see no one is proud of me
It's a long road alone and I'm not proving
Anything going by myself
When your love life is on and really moving
Oh sugar girl I really appreciate the help
I had my time with money gold and diamonds
Both went sour before they got to me
I'll be waiting girl but don't be counting hours
I'm not waiting for any of the three
I was just a peasant from the highlands
She said don't you call me your mountain girl
I said don't bother me I'm trying to write and don't worry you ain't my mountain girl
I can call you but I'd probably make you cry
These days it's what you often times do
Call the preacher then go call your father
Tell them that the wedding plans have moved
I send a message saying I'll be gone forever
The letter of reply never came
She said that she'd be true but I wouldn't let her
I wonder when all that changed
Hell has no fury like a woman
Happy scorned or otherwise
You can do what you want to with your name
But you can bet I'm changing mine
Well I'd give a $100 to get a letter
If at the bottom it said I miss you bad
See but the truth of the matter is that back home no one really misses me
See how I talk when I'm sad
Since I was young I've known a lot of women...
(fades)
Telling tales of a changing sky
It's just a shame I didn't notice you
Till someone I loved had to die
What made us think that this was so different
Who is driving behind those things you say
Why do you insult me and my friends
Who are my friends anyway
I've spent my life lying now I pay the price
Are these really words of a young man or a worthless human life
I don't mean to scare you with the things I say
I take it back, yes it's a beautiful day
I watched you from the beach when your ship sailed
You made it clear that nothing stays the same
It's getting darker I wonder if you can tell
I wonder when all that changed
You never used to let me go unfed
I was so distracted I never saw the rain
You promised you meant every word you said
I wonder when all that changed
It hurts so bad to hear such pretty words coming from somebody like you
I've been looking for so long that I've lost touch
With what's the best something to do
I've got a friend who makes good choices
Everybody likes the way that he sees things
I've got a problem and it walks me daily
Can't you see no one is proud of me
It's a long road alone and I'm not proving
Anything going by myself
When your love life is on and really moving
Oh sugar girl I really appreciate the help
I had my time with money gold and diamonds
Both went sour before they got to me
I'll be waiting girl but don't be counting hours
I'm not waiting for any of the three
I was just a peasant from the highlands
She said don't you call me your mountain girl
I said don't bother me I'm trying to write and don't worry you ain't my mountain girl
I can call you but I'd probably make you cry
These days it's what you often times do
Call the preacher then go call your father
Tell them that the wedding plans have moved
I send a message saying I'll be gone forever
The letter of reply never came
She said that she'd be true but I wouldn't let her
I wonder when all that changed
Hell has no fury like a woman
Happy scorned or otherwise
You can do what you want to with your name
But you can bet I'm changing mine
Well I'd give a $100 to get a letter
If at the bottom it said I miss you bad
See but the truth of the matter is that back home no one really misses me
See how I talk when I'm sad
Since I was young I've known a lot of women...
(fades)
Lyrics submitted by holbytla
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You aint my mountain girl.
Well, actually, guess you were.