"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.
Again, I'm on a stoop with vices in hand,
and that sweet therapy in my ears
It got me through the years
of bike rides in the rain
and driving through states I hated...
I hated you
Jah, give me new feet
They're raw and I'm hurting
This is where I go to clear my head
You could deign to refrain
I kick my heels and I will the windshield to break,
and let those crystals mar your face
Then I watch that blood as it traces lines above
a hardened heart that strains to show a father's love
These wrongs can't be righted, yet,
but I'll try to do my best to forget
I miss that house, I miss the feeling
It was the goodbye, it was the greeting:
"Welcome to the place where we'll dress you down
with brass tacks, new legs, and a sturdy crown
You are the prince of your new kingdom"
Thy will be done,
or I will be done
This is where I go when I can't see the veil and lace
This is where I go when I can't bear to see your face
and that sweet therapy in my ears
It got me through the years
of bike rides in the rain
and driving through states I hated...
I hated you
Jah, give me new feet
They're raw and I'm hurting
This is where I go to clear my head
You could deign to refrain
I kick my heels and I will the windshield to break,
and let those crystals mar your face
Then I watch that blood as it traces lines above
a hardened heart that strains to show a father's love
These wrongs can't be righted, yet,
but I'll try to do my best to forget
I miss that house, I miss the feeling
It was the goodbye, it was the greeting:
"Welcome to the place where we'll dress you down
with brass tacks, new legs, and a sturdy crown
You are the prince of your new kingdom"
Thy will be done,
or I will be done
This is where I go when I can't see the veil and lace
This is where I go when I can't bear to see your face
Lyrics submitted by celee15
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