"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.
Away ye grey landscapes, ye gardens o' roses
In you let the minions of luxury rove
And restore me the rocks where the snowflake reposes
If still they are sacred to freedom and love
Brave Caledonia, dear are thy mountains
Round their white summits though elements war
Though cataracts roar 'stead of smooth-flowing fountains
I sigh for the valley o' dark Lochnagar
Ah! there my young footsteps in infancy wandered
My cap was the bonnet, my cloak was the plaid
On chieftains departed my memory lingered
As daily I strayed through the pine-covered glade
I sought not my home till the day's dying glory
Gave place to the rays o' the bright polar star
My fancy was cheered by the bold martial story
As told by the sons o' dark Lochnagar
Years have rolled on, Lochnagar, since I left you
Years must roll on ere I see you again
Though Nature of verdure and flowers bereft you
Yet still art thou dearer than Albion's plain
England! thy beauties are tame and domestic
To one who has roved on the mountains afar
Oh for the crags that are wild and majestic
The steep frowning glories o' wild Lochnagar
Brave Caledonia, dear are thy mountains
I sigh for the valley o' dark Lochnagar
Ill-starred now the brave, did no vision foreboding
Tell you that fate had forsaken our cause?
Yet were you destined to die at Culloden
Though victory crowned not your fall with applause
Yet were you happy in death's earthly slumber
To sleep wi' your clan in the caves of Braemar
The pibroch resounds to the piper's loud number
Your deeds to the echoes of wild Lochnagar
Brave Caledonia, dear are thy mountains
I sigh for the valley o' dark Lochnagar
In you let the minions of luxury rove
And restore me the rocks where the snowflake reposes
If still they are sacred to freedom and love
Brave Caledonia, dear are thy mountains
Round their white summits though elements war
Though cataracts roar 'stead of smooth-flowing fountains
I sigh for the valley o' dark Lochnagar
Ah! there my young footsteps in infancy wandered
My cap was the bonnet, my cloak was the plaid
On chieftains departed my memory lingered
As daily I strayed through the pine-covered glade
I sought not my home till the day's dying glory
Gave place to the rays o' the bright polar star
My fancy was cheered by the bold martial story
As told by the sons o' dark Lochnagar
Years have rolled on, Lochnagar, since I left you
Years must roll on ere I see you again
Though Nature of verdure and flowers bereft you
Yet still art thou dearer than Albion's plain
England! thy beauties are tame and domestic
To one who has roved on the mountains afar
Oh for the crags that are wild and majestic
The steep frowning glories o' wild Lochnagar
Brave Caledonia, dear are thy mountains
I sigh for the valley o' dark Lochnagar
Ill-starred now the brave, did no vision foreboding
Tell you that fate had forsaken our cause?
Yet were you destined to die at Culloden
Though victory crowned not your fall with applause
Yet were you happy in death's earthly slumber
To sleep wi' your clan in the caves of Braemar
The pibroch resounds to the piper's loud number
Your deeds to the echoes of wild Lochnagar
Brave Caledonia, dear are thy mountains
I sigh for the valley o' dark Lochnagar
Lyrics submitted by Mr_Soul
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