"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.
I can’t be remembered
as a great adventurer
Make a mark, or make a stain
And take it for what it is
Nothing gets to me like mediocrity
Shouldn’t have stayed, should’ve been on my way
But there’s a mean little bastard living inside of me
An abscess, a kind of growth (My God, that sounds so gross)
They call me ‘Kid Cancer’ and now I know why
Invite me to dinner, see, now I’m inside.
If I can’t be a hero, I’ll be a plague
Charmed up your bears, now they’re all dead
They’re all dead
So make a mark (I’ve made a few), or make a stain (I’ve made those too)
And take it for (and take it all) what it is
Shouldn’t have stayed, but I get carried away
Like a kid in a candy store, pocket full of razor blades,
Sticking gum in sister’s hair (or in the backyard burning ants)
They call me ‘Kid Cancer’, I call myself me,
But what’s in a name? It’s all just one stain, some pages of history.
If these fingers were knives, the things I’d fillet
Oh you great expender, do not think that you’re safe
I’d bet these lips could get a smile this way
Like any great performer, more than happy to fade (fade)
Shouldn’t have stayed, but I said “fuck it, I’ll play”
And the Demon advanced with a hidden agenda: me
For once a sweet young child (I guess it’s been a while)
They call me Kid Cancer, the Beast calls me ‘son’
I haven’t yet decided: is this a chore or is this fun?
as a great adventurer
Make a mark, or make a stain
And take it for what it is
Nothing gets to me like mediocrity
Shouldn’t have stayed, should’ve been on my way
But there’s a mean little bastard living inside of me
An abscess, a kind of growth (My God, that sounds so gross)
They call me ‘Kid Cancer’ and now I know why
Invite me to dinner, see, now I’m inside.
If I can’t be a hero, I’ll be a plague
Charmed up your bears, now they’re all dead
They’re all dead
So make a mark (I’ve made a few), or make a stain (I’ve made those too)
And take it for (and take it all) what it is
Shouldn’t have stayed, but I get carried away
Like a kid in a candy store, pocket full of razor blades,
Sticking gum in sister’s hair (or in the backyard burning ants)
They call me ‘Kid Cancer’, I call myself me,
But what’s in a name? It’s all just one stain, some pages of history.
If these fingers were knives, the things I’d fillet
Oh you great expender, do not think that you’re safe
I’d bet these lips could get a smile this way
Like any great performer, more than happy to fade (fade)
Shouldn’t have stayed, but I said “fuck it, I’ll play”
And the Demon advanced with a hidden agenda: me
For once a sweet young child (I guess it’s been a while)
They call me Kid Cancer, the Beast calls me ‘son’
I haven’t yet decided: is this a chore or is this fun?
Lyrics submitted by ikilurmom, edited by voice.of.reason?, TReed0803
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