"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.
Sweetheart, my baby
We can't let the whole thing fall apart now
I've been working all the time and I know
It's not what you signed up for
But somehow, my darling
We need to hold out for better times
I'm done with sleepless nights
Oh, the memories of summer on the Mission's streets
With carefree hearts and no expectations at all
Now we're older babe and while things couldn't stay that way
I'm still sure that you're the girl that I adore
Sweetheart, my baby
Let's go out tonight and paint the town
We've been working all the time
And I'm tired and sick to death of it now
We've been trying to build some kind of life
But fuck all of that tonight
Oh, the memories of summer on the Mission's streets
With carefree hearts and no expectations at all
Now we're older babe and while things couldn't stay that way
I'm still sure that you're the girl that I adore
And maybe you are right
To make fun of my plans for the night
But it's been a long time coming
And while I keep on trying
I'm still a rock and roll fuck up at heart
Oh, the memories of summer on the Mission's streets
With carefree hearts and no expectations at all
Tonight lie with me and right before I fall asleep
Tell me this is still where you want to be
We can't let the whole thing fall apart now
I've been working all the time and I know
It's not what you signed up for
But somehow, my darling
We need to hold out for better times
I'm done with sleepless nights
Oh, the memories of summer on the Mission's streets
With carefree hearts and no expectations at all
Now we're older babe and while things couldn't stay that way
I'm still sure that you're the girl that I adore
Sweetheart, my baby
Let's go out tonight and paint the town
We've been working all the time
And I'm tired and sick to death of it now
We've been trying to build some kind of life
But fuck all of that tonight
Oh, the memories of summer on the Mission's streets
With carefree hearts and no expectations at all
Now we're older babe and while things couldn't stay that way
I'm still sure that you're the girl that I adore
And maybe you are right
To make fun of my plans for the night
But it's been a long time coming
And while I keep on trying
I'm still a rock and roll fuck up at heart
Oh, the memories of summer on the Mission's streets
With carefree hearts and no expectations at all
Tonight lie with me and right before I fall asleep
Tell me this is still where you want to be
Lyrics submitted by iceblink-luck
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