"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.
Jesus Christ
How's a good man got to be
Jesus Christ
They really took the ground from me
Because we all need somebody
When the road gets a little rocky
Jesus Christ
Make a good man out of me
Save my life
I'm as scared as I can be
Save my life
Take this longing out of me
Because we all need somebody
When the waves get a little rough
Save my life
Make a good man out of me
Please
And I should have told you
That things were going wrong
And I should have asked you
For direction all along
Just a minute of your time would comfort me
Kill the emptiness
Oh I need some harmony
Some harmony
Jesus Christ
Make a good man out of me
And I should have told you
That things were going wrong
And I need to know
That you'll be there to keep me strong
Just take a second of your time and calm me down
Feel this emptiness
Oh I need someone around
Someone around
Someone around tonight
Jesus Christ
Save my life
Jesus Christ
Save my life
Say the word
Breathe on me
Make a good man of me
How's a good man got to be
Jesus Christ
They really took the ground from me
Because we all need somebody
When the road gets a little rocky
Jesus Christ
Make a good man out of me
Save my life
I'm as scared as I can be
Save my life
Take this longing out of me
Because we all need somebody
When the waves get a little rough
Save my life
Make a good man out of me
Please
And I should have told you
That things were going wrong
And I should have asked you
For direction all along
Just a minute of your time would comfort me
Kill the emptiness
Oh I need some harmony
Some harmony
Jesus Christ
Make a good man out of me
And I should have told you
That things were going wrong
And I need to know
That you'll be there to keep me strong
Just take a second of your time and calm me down
Feel this emptiness
Oh I need someone around
Someone around
Someone around tonight
Jesus Christ
Save my life
Jesus Christ
Save my life
Say the word
Breathe on me
Make a good man of me
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