"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.
Though our paths in life have parted
You no longer care for me
But when you're happy with another
Won't you sometimes think of me
When the evenin' sun is sinking
Down behind the trees
And the moon is slowly rising
Won't you sometimes think of me
I'll always keep your picture
It means so much to me
And every night I'll pray, dear
That you'll sometimes think of me
Think of days that are gone, dear
Days we could recall
If you would only try, dear
But still you blame me for all
When the evenin' sun is sinking
Down behind the trees
And the moon is slowly rising
Won't you sometimes think of me
All I can say's I tried, dear
But you wouldn't let it be
So if you're ever sad and lonely
Won't you sometimes think of me
When the evenin' sun is sinking
Down behind the trees
And the moon is slowly rising
Won't you sometimes think of me
You no longer care for me
But when you're happy with another
Won't you sometimes think of me
When the evenin' sun is sinking
Down behind the trees
And the moon is slowly rising
Won't you sometimes think of me
I'll always keep your picture
It means so much to me
And every night I'll pray, dear
That you'll sometimes think of me
Think of days that are gone, dear
Days we could recall
If you would only try, dear
But still you blame me for all
When the evenin' sun is sinking
Down behind the trees
And the moon is slowly rising
Won't you sometimes think of me
All I can say's I tried, dear
But you wouldn't let it be
So if you're ever sad and lonely
Won't you sometimes think of me
When the evenin' sun is sinking
Down behind the trees
And the moon is slowly rising
Won't you sometimes think of me
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