"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.
[Chorus]
Star
You're a star
Yeah be careful
What
You're wishing for
All your dreams
Coming true
Star yes you are
You're now bigger
Than Venus and Mars
You can run
But you can't hide
So
You're gonna make it
Chance
You're gonna take it
Tinseltown
Is calling your name
Penny in your pocket
Walking like a prophet
Fortune teller
Claiming your fame
Arriving in style
On the
Red carpet mile
To the left
To the right
Step aside
As you wave
To the crowd
A voice
Cries out loud
Look at you
You're the new
Overnight sensation
[Chorus]
Love and hate
Related
Privacy invaded
A paparazzi
Public domain
Dirty little secret
Guess
She couldn't keep it
At least you made it
On the front page
A tabloid be told
All that glitters
Ain't gold
Not a muse
Drug abuse suicide
As you're left
All alone
After
Selling your soul
In the aisle, smile
Ready
For your close up
[Chorus]
Stars in your eyes
Got
Your piece of the pie
In the sky
Don't look down
As you hang on
[Chorus]
Stars in your eyes
Got
Your piece of the pie
In the sky
Don't look down
As you're hanging on
Hanging on
For your life
For you're better off
Dead then alive
Then they love you
Forever
Star
You're a star
Yeah be careful
What
You're wishing for
All your dreams
Coming true
Star yes you are
You're now bigger
Than Venus and Mars
You can run
But you can't hide
So
You're gonna make it
Chance
You're gonna take it
Tinseltown
Is calling your name
Penny in your pocket
Walking like a prophet
Fortune teller
Claiming your fame
Arriving in style
On the
Red carpet mile
To the left
To the right
Step aside
As you wave
To the crowd
A voice
Cries out loud
Look at you
You're the new
Overnight sensation
[Chorus]
Love and hate
Related
Privacy invaded
A paparazzi
Public domain
Dirty little secret
Guess
She couldn't keep it
At least you made it
On the front page
A tabloid be told
All that glitters
Ain't gold
Not a muse
Drug abuse suicide
As you're left
All alone
After
Selling your soul
In the aisle, smile
Ready
For your close up
[Chorus]
Stars in your eyes
Got
Your piece of the pie
In the sky
Don't look down
As you hang on
[Chorus]
Stars in your eyes
Got
Your piece of the pie
In the sky
Don't look down
As you're hanging on
Hanging on
For your life
For you're better off
Dead then alive
Then they love you
Forever
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