"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.
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Been told a long time ago
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Been told a long time ago
I've been told
Baby, you've been bold
I won't be your fool no more
Oh, big conniver
Nothin' but a jive
I done got hip to your jive
Oh, big conniver
Nothin' but a jive
I done got hip to your jive
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Won't be your feel no more, ohh
Oh, Malinda
She's a solid sender
You know you better surrender
Oh, Malinda
She's a solid sender
You know you better surrender
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Won't be your fool no more
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Been told a long time ago
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Been told a long time ago
I've been told
Baby, you've been bold
I won't be your fool no more, ow
Peepin' and hidin'
Been told a long time ago
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Been told a long time ago
I've been told
Baby, you've been bold
I won't be your fool no more
Oh, big conniver
Nothin' but a jive
I done got hip to your jive
Oh, big conniver
Nothin' but a jive
I done got hip to your jive
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Won't be your feel no more, ohh
Oh, Malinda
She's a solid sender
You know you better surrender
Oh, Malinda
She's a solid sender
You know you better surrender
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Won't be your fool no more
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Been told a long time ago
Slippin' and slidin'
Peepin' and hidin'
Been told a long time ago
I've been told
Baby, you've been bold
I won't be your fool no more, ow
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