"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 know you were happy a long time ago
You felt on top and rightfully so
And everybody wanted to be your friend
And everybody wanted to be your friend
Then something went wrong and it's not the same
And I'll admit that I'm the one to blame
I took you away from all of your friends
I took you away from all of your friends
And the friendships that go sour can only make you wonder why
But I don't think that you should have to cry
You can take your problems to another place
You can leave all your problems and go to outer space
And everybody will want to be your friend
And everybody will want to be your friend
But the friendships that go sour can only make you want to die
But I don't think that you should have to cry
No I don't think that you should have to cry
Don't cry
Don't say "Goodbye"
You felt on top and rightfully so
And everybody wanted to be your friend
And everybody wanted to be your friend
Then something went wrong and it's not the same
And I'll admit that I'm the one to blame
I took you away from all of your friends
I took you away from all of your friends
And the friendships that go sour can only make you wonder why
But I don't think that you should have to cry
You can take your problems to another place
You can leave all your problems and go to outer space
And everybody will want to be your friend
And everybody will want to be your friend
But the friendships that go sour can only make you want to die
But I don't think that you should have to cry
No I don't think that you should have to cry
Don't cry
Don't say "Goodbye"
Lyrics submitted by JohnnyLurg
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Fast Car
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