"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.
At a certain point, I've got to turn my head away from the carnage. I can't sit here and watch you kill yourself this way. My words just aren't getting through. This is the last time I'm coming over. This is the last phone call that I'll take. Because it's the same way every day. You know what you're doing. It's a self destructive game you play until the sunrise, every time. How much can you take? I love you brother, but I can't save you anymore. You ask for me to be a friend to you. Well where are you? Where did you go? You ask for me to be a friend to you while you shake. Give me break. You ask for me to be a friend to you. Where are you? Where did you go? I can't save you anymore. So when's the last time you'll make it home safe? When's the last time that I'll see your face? It's the same thing again, and I've lost too many friends who thought they were indestructible. You'll see the Sun rise one more time before you're in your grave. You're on your own now. I can't save you anymore. As for me, I'll be right here. A shotgun and a rocking chair. Where are you?
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