"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.
Six on the second hand
Two New Year's resolutions
And there's just no question
What this man should do
Take all the time lost
All the days that I cost
Take what I took and
Give it back to you
All this time
We were waiting for each other
All this time
I was waiting for you
We got all these words
Can't waste them on another
So I'm straight in a straight line
Running back to you
I don't know what day it is
I had to check the paper
I don't know the city
But it isn't home
But you say I'm lucky
To love something that loves me
But I'm torn as I could be
Wherever I roam
Hear me say
All this time
We were waiting for each other
All this time
I was waiting for you
We got all these words
Can't waste them on another
So I'm straight in a straight line
Running back to you
Yeah, all, running back to you
All, running back to you
Yeah
Oh, every time is so far
It's just so far
To get back to where you are
All this time
We were waiting for each other
All this time
I was waiting for you
We got all these words
Can't waste them on another
So I'm straight in a straight line
Running back to you
Straight in a straight line
Running back to you
Straight in a straight line
Running back to you
Two New Year's resolutions
And there's just no question
What this man should do
Take all the time lost
All the days that I cost
Take what I took and
Give it back to you
All this time
We were waiting for each other
All this time
I was waiting for you
We got all these words
Can't waste them on another
So I'm straight in a straight line
Running back to you
I don't know what day it is
I had to check the paper
I don't know the city
But it isn't home
But you say I'm lucky
To love something that loves me
But I'm torn as I could be
Wherever I roam
Hear me say
All this time
We were waiting for each other
All this time
I was waiting for you
We got all these words
Can't waste them on another
So I'm straight in a straight line
Running back to you
Yeah, all, running back to you
All, running back to you
Yeah
Oh, every time is so far
It's just so far
To get back to where you are
All this time
We were waiting for each other
All this time
I was waiting for you
We got all these words
Can't waste them on another
So I'm straight in a straight line
Running back to you
Straight in a straight line
Running back to you
Straight in a straight line
Running back to you
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Fast Car
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Page
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I think it's about a guy who has been looking everywhere for love, but the person he was meant to be with was right there the whole time, (maybe a friend), but he didn't see. Then he realizes that he needs to be with her, and he doesnt care how far it will be, he's "straight in a straight line running back to you." and the part that says "we've got all these words can't waste them on another" means that they shouldn't waste words like " i love you" on anyone else but eachother.
It reminds me of american pie 2, where Jim is trying to get Nadia to like him with help from michelle, but in the end Jim realizes that the one he really likes is Michelle.
That's probably not even close to what onerepublic was thinking, but whatever....good song!