"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.
Beautiful moonlight
Shadowing sunlight
Can't shake the belief
That there's something bright
So deep inside of me
Can you make me a believer?
Make the madness saner?
Can you take this pain
Wash away this stain
As it's pouring down on me?
And if I slip into tomorrow
Will you bring me back?
And if I call on you
Will you answer me
Honestly?
Honestly
I'm holding on but not for long
And I need you more than ever
Honestly
Honestly
The darkness calls but when you're with me
I could live forever
Drowning in this desert
Alone and I'm surrounded
By the spirits who sink
Their teeth in me
And swallow my heart and my soul
Are you disappointed
When I walk right through you?
Or is it true?
All the things I knew
Deep inside of you
And if I slip into tomorrow
Will you bring me back?
And if I call on you
Will you answer me
Honestly?
Honestly
I'm holding on but not for long
And I need you more than ever
Honestly
Honestly
The darkness calls but when you're with me
I could live forever
A brand new way
And the angels came
It's not too late
It's never too late
Honestly
Honestly
I'm holding on but not for long
And I need you, need you, yeah
Honestly
Honestly
The darkness calls but when you're with me
I could live forever
Honestly
Honestly
I'm holding on but not for long
And I need you more than ever
Honestly
Honestly
The darkness calls but when you're with me
I could live again
Honestly
Honestly
Honestly
Honestly
Shadowing sunlight
Can't shake the belief
That there's something bright
So deep inside of me
Can you make me a believer?
Make the madness saner?
Can you take this pain
Wash away this stain
As it's pouring down on me?
And if I slip into tomorrow
Will you bring me back?
And if I call on you
Will you answer me
Honestly?
Honestly
I'm holding on but not for long
And I need you more than ever
Honestly
Honestly
The darkness calls but when you're with me
I could live forever
Drowning in this desert
Alone and I'm surrounded
By the spirits who sink
Their teeth in me
And swallow my heart and my soul
Are you disappointed
When I walk right through you?
Or is it true?
All the things I knew
Deep inside of you
And if I slip into tomorrow
Will you bring me back?
And if I call on you
Will you answer me
Honestly?
Honestly
I'm holding on but not for long
And I need you more than ever
Honestly
Honestly
The darkness calls but when you're with me
I could live forever
A brand new way
And the angels came
It's not too late
It's never too late
Honestly
Honestly
I'm holding on but not for long
And I need you, need you, yeah
Honestly
Honestly
The darkness calls but when you're with me
I could live forever
Honestly
Honestly
I'm holding on but not for long
And I need you more than ever
Honestly
Honestly
The darkness calls but when you're with me
I could live again
Honestly
Honestly
Honestly
Honestly
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