"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.
Today came and went, left me worn and spent
But that's how it goes sometimes
Filling the blanks, play it by ear
Don't ask me why, guess I'm aware
At least it passes time
And I know it doesn't make any sense
But when it comes to you, I've got no defense
You tear into me like a rainstorm baby
Rocking my heart, I get earthquake shaking
You have no right, you have no right
Making me feel like the world's on fire
One kiss and I'm struck by lightning
You have no right, you have no right
I used to be at the wheel
But here I go against my will
Crashing deep into you, oh
But that's the breaks and that's the risk
And now I'm all tied up in this
There's not a thing I can do
You know you want to give me no choice
'Cause I ain't got a prayer when I hear your voice
You tear into me like a rainstorm baby
Rocking my heart, I get earthquake shaking
You have no right, you have no right
Making me feel like the world's on fire
One kiss and I'm struck by lightning
You have no right, you have no right
And it drives me past the point
The point of no return
Yeah I'm breaking records here
This heart is racing at every turn
Every turn
You tear into me like a rainstorm baby
Rocking my heart, I get earthquake shaking
You have no right, you have no right
Making me feel like the world's on fire
One kiss and I'm struck by lightning
You have no right, you have no right
But that's how it goes sometimes
Filling the blanks, play it by ear
Don't ask me why, guess I'm aware
At least it passes time
And I know it doesn't make any sense
But when it comes to you, I've got no defense
You tear into me like a rainstorm baby
Rocking my heart, I get earthquake shaking
You have no right, you have no right
Making me feel like the world's on fire
One kiss and I'm struck by lightning
You have no right, you have no right
I used to be at the wheel
But here I go against my will
Crashing deep into you, oh
But that's the breaks and that's the risk
And now I'm all tied up in this
There's not a thing I can do
You know you want to give me no choice
'Cause I ain't got a prayer when I hear your voice
You tear into me like a rainstorm baby
Rocking my heart, I get earthquake shaking
You have no right, you have no right
Making me feel like the world's on fire
One kiss and I'm struck by lightning
You have no right, you have no right
And it drives me past the point
The point of no return
Yeah I'm breaking records here
This heart is racing at every turn
Every turn
You tear into me like a rainstorm baby
Rocking my heart, I get earthquake shaking
You have no right, you have no right
Making me feel like the world's on fire
One kiss and I'm struck by lightning
You have no right, you have no right
Lyrics submitted by dontwasteyoursong
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