"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.
In my room
When no one's home
I want you here
Marissa Rome
You're so fresh
You're fresh to death
But you've turned your tricks
Made such a mess
And the fingers of your mind
Have wrapped around my spine
And made me feel so blind
In my sleep
You're by my side
And I'm seeing pink
But my tongue is tied
So pick me up
And let's get around
Marissa, dear
Don't let me down
And the fingers of your mind
Have wrapped around my spine
And made me feel so blind
And no matter what you do
Just please don't say we're through
Cuz I'm holding out for you
And the fingers of your mind
Have wrapped around my spine
And made me feel so blind
:: Country Interlude
When I stay awake
Never take a break
Eyes begin to ache
All the way
When I stay inside
Never close my eyes
Always close the blinds
All the way
I live on a boat
In a moat, castaway
By day
You can say what you will
You live in a town
In a town that is brown
Not white
That's suburban flight
When I raise a hand
Not in my command
Hit the baby grand
All the way
Can I get a rise
Make a big surprise
Live between her thighs
All the way
When no one's home
I want you here
Marissa Rome
You're so fresh
You're fresh to death
But you've turned your tricks
Made such a mess
And the fingers of your mind
Have wrapped around my spine
And made me feel so blind
In my sleep
You're by my side
And I'm seeing pink
But my tongue is tied
So pick me up
And let's get around
Marissa, dear
Don't let me down
And the fingers of your mind
Have wrapped around my spine
And made me feel so blind
And no matter what you do
Just please don't say we're through
Cuz I'm holding out for you
And the fingers of your mind
Have wrapped around my spine
And made me feel so blind
:: Country Interlude
When I stay awake
Never take a break
Eyes begin to ache
All the way
When I stay inside
Never close my eyes
Always close the blinds
All the way
I live on a boat
In a moat, castaway
By day
You can say what you will
You live in a town
In a town that is brown
Not white
That's suburban flight
When I raise a hand
Not in my command
Hit the baby grand
All the way
Can I get a rise
Make a big surprise
Live between her thighs
All the way
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