"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.
Everybody's looking for someone to follow
Finding the whole thing hard to swallow
Everybody's looking for a reason to live
If you're looking for a reason, I've a reason to give
Pleasure, little treasure
Everybody's looking for a new sensation
Everybody's talking about the state of the nation
Everybody's searching for a promised land
Everybody's failing to understand
Pleasure, little treasure
Everybody's looking for a reason to live
If you're looking for a reason, I've a reason to give
Pleasure, little treasure
Maternity frocks and paternity suits
If that's what you want, they're waiting for you
Everybody needs some reason or other
You'll find a reason when you discover
Pleasure, little treasure
Everybody's looking for a reason to live
If you're looking for a reason, I've a reason to give
Pleasure, little treasure
Pleasure, little treasure
Pleasure, little treasure
Pleasure, little treasure
Pleasure, little treasure
Pleasure, little treasure
Finding the whole thing hard to swallow
Everybody's looking for a reason to live
If you're looking for a reason, I've a reason to give
Pleasure, little treasure
Everybody's looking for a new sensation
Everybody's talking about the state of the nation
Everybody's searching for a promised land
Everybody's failing to understand
Pleasure, little treasure
Everybody's looking for a reason to live
If you're looking for a reason, I've a reason to give
Pleasure, little treasure
Maternity frocks and paternity suits
If that's what you want, they're waiting for you
Everybody needs some reason or other
You'll find a reason when you discover
Pleasure, little treasure
Everybody's looking for a reason to live
If you're looking for a reason, I've a reason to give
Pleasure, little treasure
Pleasure, little treasure
Pleasure, little treasure
Pleasure, little treasure
Pleasure, little treasure
Pleasure, little treasure
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Pleasure, Little Treasure Lyrics as written by Martin Gore
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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Fast Car
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