"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.
And everything's got me down
but sometimes the thumb just isn't enough
to get the fuck out of this town.
Well he travels so he won't find a way to destroy himself
and I guess I travel looking for the perfect method to do so.
But there comes a day where there's nothing left for you here
wherever here may be
and that's the day that it's time to go.
So he walked to the on-ramp,
and it seemed like we were in it together
and just maybe if things went right,
it could stay this way forever
but when it comes down to it
I'M STILL THE ONLY ONE SLEEPING ALONE.
Guess I should've known better than to think I wasn't on my own
BUT I'LL NEVER MAKE THAT SAME MISTAKE AGAIN!
And I don't know the answer but I know that you don't have it.
I don't know what I want but I know what I don't you bastard.
I don't know what's right. I just know that you're wrong.
I don't know where home is but I know that I'm not there now.
Now is no time TO BE SOBER, PASS MORE KING COBRA
UNTIL I'M FALLING OVER. Until I'm falling over.
It's Saturday afternoon and malt liquor is in the mug
and if you had asked me then I would have slurred;
well maybe I'm a little bit drunk, but it's alright.
The cops don't come out 'till night and I'll get through this.
I'll vomit up the dope sickness, the alcohol poisoning will pass eventually
and I'll survive again, unfortunately.
When I dream of the future, I see an arm full of holes, empty pockets and a bleeding nose.
Hacking up a lung filled with blood and tar, on a sidewalk next to my spangeing jar. Next to my spangeing jar.
When I dream of the future, I see a house falling in on itself.
When I dream of the future I see shots of whiskey and failing health.
When I dream of the future I see, smoking crack, watching ten-year-olds buy it.
When I dream of the future I see a place with someone to wanna die with.
And I don't know the answer, but I know that you don't have it.
I don't know what I want, but I know what I don't you bastard.
I don't know what's right, I just know that you're wrong.
I don't know where home is, but I know that I'm not there now.
I'm not there now. I'm not there now.
but sometimes the thumb just isn't enough
to get the fuck out of this town.
Well he travels so he won't find a way to destroy himself
and I guess I travel looking for the perfect method to do so.
But there comes a day where there's nothing left for you here
wherever here may be
and that's the day that it's time to go.
So he walked to the on-ramp,
and it seemed like we were in it together
and just maybe if things went right,
it could stay this way forever
but when it comes down to it
I'M STILL THE ONLY ONE SLEEPING ALONE.
Guess I should've known better than to think I wasn't on my own
BUT I'LL NEVER MAKE THAT SAME MISTAKE AGAIN!
And I don't know the answer but I know that you don't have it.
I don't know what I want but I know what I don't you bastard.
I don't know what's right. I just know that you're wrong.
I don't know where home is but I know that I'm not there now.
Now is no time TO BE SOBER, PASS MORE KING COBRA
UNTIL I'M FALLING OVER. Until I'm falling over.
It's Saturday afternoon and malt liquor is in the mug
and if you had asked me then I would have slurred;
well maybe I'm a little bit drunk, but it's alright.
The cops don't come out 'till night and I'll get through this.
I'll vomit up the dope sickness, the alcohol poisoning will pass eventually
and I'll survive again, unfortunately.
When I dream of the future, I see an arm full of holes, empty pockets and a bleeding nose.
Hacking up a lung filled with blood and tar, on a sidewalk next to my spangeing jar. Next to my spangeing jar.
When I dream of the future, I see a house falling in on itself.
When I dream of the future I see shots of whiskey and failing health.
When I dream of the future I see, smoking crack, watching ten-year-olds buy it.
When I dream of the future I see a place with someone to wanna die with.
And I don't know the answer, but I know that you don't have it.
I don't know what I want, but I know what I don't you bastard.
I don't know what's right, I just know that you're wrong.
I don't know where home is, but I know that I'm not there now.
I'm not there now. I'm not there now.
Lyrics submitted by bbq49, edited by PreviouslyUnre
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