"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.
I was taking a chance on a tight-rope
Walking the line to the end
I was ready to fall, had my back to the wall
But I'm flying again
I been shifting my gears; I been moving
'Cause they wanted me dead or alive
But I'm making a break, and I want you to take a ride
Take a ride
Bring on the night
Into the shadows and out of the light
Bring on the night
Let the Dream Chaser take you away
When the sun hits another horizon
And the joker has started to deal
You can quit if you choose, but there's nothing to lose
By a spin of the wheel
Gotta burn all your bridges behind you, they'll keep dragging
You down if you stay
And I know I ain't wrong, 'cause I'm free, and I'm on my way
On my way
Bring on the night
Into the shadows and out of the light
Bring on the night
Let the Dream Chaser take you away
I live on the edge of tomorrow
I'm racing along on the wind
I can see what I need, you better believe
I'm playin' to win
I got nothin' to fear when I'm flyin'
'Cause yesterday's over and gone
And there's nothin' I can do, so I gotta keep movin' on
Movin' on
Movin' on
Bring on the night
Into the shadows and out of the light
Bring on the night
Let the Dream Chaser take you away
Take you away
Bring on the night
Dream Chaser
Walking the line to the end
I was ready to fall, had my back to the wall
But I'm flying again
I been shifting my gears; I been moving
'Cause they wanted me dead or alive
But I'm making a break, and I want you to take a ride
Take a ride
Bring on the night
Into the shadows and out of the light
Bring on the night
Let the Dream Chaser take you away
When the sun hits another horizon
And the joker has started to deal
You can quit if you choose, but there's nothing to lose
By a spin of the wheel
Gotta burn all your bridges behind you, they'll keep dragging
You down if you stay
And I know I ain't wrong, 'cause I'm free, and I'm on my way
On my way
Bring on the night
Into the shadows and out of the light
Bring on the night
Let the Dream Chaser take you away
I live on the edge of tomorrow
I'm racing along on the wind
I can see what I need, you better believe
I'm playin' to win
I got nothin' to fear when I'm flyin'
'Cause yesterday's over and gone
And there's nothin' I can do, so I gotta keep movin' on
Movin' on
Movin' on
Bring on the night
Into the shadows and out of the light
Bring on the night
Let the Dream Chaser take you away
Take you away
Bring on the night
Dream Chaser
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
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Fast Car
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