"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.
Stole my heart like a thief in the night
Stopped in the tracks in the middle of a fight
To make it right let the brim-stones burn
I'll let you live yours, now let me have my turn
But you wrong thinking you could stop time
A few hours ahead baby girl not mine
I look ahead I know you see the stop signs
Blind men know, it's not green all the time
You driving me insane Mrs. Rain Cloud
Moving on the road, took the same vow
Now I'm trying to u-turn on the way out
The fire all around us is played out
Standing all fours on the bed
Uh, they say some things is better not said
I bet you'd rather stick horns on your head
I bet you'd rather stick horns on your head
If you think you're special, you're probably not
Why even try (why even try)
Just living a lie (living a lie)
You've never been like that (never been like that)
So why even try, why even try to change
Okay okay Miss Rain Cloud
Make the sun shine til the day's out
You're not alone, call my name out
But what if, there's no way out
And no your words are inaudible
Reception is bad when I'm calling you
Confusion, and it's the thought of you
You're no spy, I'm onto you
This letter was written in bitter form
So read carefully, don't get it wrong
See that's us, but that's gone
The scarecrows, in the back lawn
That's another dress, we'll put that on
I keep it real, is that wrong?
I bet you'd rather stick horns on your head
I bet you'd rather stick horns on your head
If you think you're special, you're probably not
Why why why even try (why even try)
Just living a lie (living a lie)
You've never been like that (never been like that)
So why even try, why even try to change
Making little sunshine
Till the days out
Making your sunshine
Till your calling my name out
What if there's not a simple way out
Reception is bad and you're calling me now
Never been like that
Never been like that
Mrs. Rain Cloud, you're special
Think you're special
Why why why even try (why even try)
Just living a lie (living a lie)
You've never been like that (never been like that)
So why even try, why even try to change
Thinkin' you're special (why even try)
Thinkin' you're fun
Why even try (livin' a lie)
Thinkin' you're special
Thinkin' you're fun
Why even try
Why why why even try and change
Thinkin' you're special
Thinkin' you're fun
Why even try
Thinkin' you're special
Thinkin' you're fun
Why even try
Stopped in the tracks in the middle of a fight
To make it right let the brim-stones burn
I'll let you live yours, now let me have my turn
But you wrong thinking you could stop time
A few hours ahead baby girl not mine
I look ahead I know you see the stop signs
Blind men know, it's not green all the time
You driving me insane Mrs. Rain Cloud
Moving on the road, took the same vow
Now I'm trying to u-turn on the way out
The fire all around us is played out
Standing all fours on the bed
Uh, they say some things is better not said
I bet you'd rather stick horns on your head
I bet you'd rather stick horns on your head
If you think you're special, you're probably not
Why even try (why even try)
Just living a lie (living a lie)
You've never been like that (never been like that)
So why even try, why even try to change
Okay okay Miss Rain Cloud
Make the sun shine til the day's out
You're not alone, call my name out
But what if, there's no way out
And no your words are inaudible
Reception is bad when I'm calling you
Confusion, and it's the thought of you
You're no spy, I'm onto you
This letter was written in bitter form
So read carefully, don't get it wrong
See that's us, but that's gone
The scarecrows, in the back lawn
That's another dress, we'll put that on
I keep it real, is that wrong?
I bet you'd rather stick horns on your head
I bet you'd rather stick horns on your head
If you think you're special, you're probably not
Why why why even try (why even try)
Just living a lie (living a lie)
You've never been like that (never been like that)
So why even try, why even try to change
Making little sunshine
Till the days out
Making your sunshine
Till your calling my name out
What if there's not a simple way out
Reception is bad and you're calling me now
Never been like that
Never been like that
Mrs. Rain Cloud, you're special
Think you're special
Why why why even try (why even try)
Just living a lie (living a lie)
You've never been like that (never been like that)
So why even try, why even try to change
Thinkin' you're special (why even try)
Thinkin' you're fun
Why even try (livin' a lie)
Thinkin' you're special
Thinkin' you're fun
Why even try
Why why why even try and change
Thinkin' you're special
Thinkin' you're fun
Why even try
Thinkin' you're special
Thinkin' you're fun
Why even try
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Fast Car
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