"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.
What if I was wrong and jumped to conclusions
Cause the chance of losing you was all too dangerous
So I just assume that you're doing things before you get the chance
So I can leave and feel like I've got the upper hand
Guilty and maybe I'm just scared of crumbling
Never wasn't much for that life of gambling
But you can't win if you don't play if don't you play there's no shame in this
That's caused me to spade
I said I wouldn't let you down
But it's like we've both have changed some how
You've made a disease of this town
And you act like you don't care
But you left
Your tears on the runway
You think you're running away
You're leaving all your troubles behind
But I'm not going with you this time
I don't wanna try to pretend I'm somebody else
Take me as I am or be left alone
Tears on the runway (run away)
You know that you love the chase
With your tears on the runway
This hate with us is flying south if you know what I mean
But I'm trying my best to keep you right here in my city
A wise women said I wish people weren't afraid of love
Then she packed her shit and she ran like a coward
When the thunder struck
Things aren't always picture perfect
But picture us on top cause we're worth it
So go and get your ticket and grab your sweater
I used to live for the chase
But now I know better
Your tears on the runway
You think you're running away
You're leaving all your troubles behind
But I'm not going with you this time
I don't wanna try to pretend I'm somebody else
Take me as I am or be left alone
Tears on the runway (run away)
You know that you love the chase
I love the chase
You know that I love the chase
Cause the chance of losing you was all too dangerous
So I just assume that you're doing things before you get the chance
So I can leave and feel like I've got the upper hand
Guilty and maybe I'm just scared of crumbling
Never wasn't much for that life of gambling
But you can't win if you don't play if don't you play there's no shame in this
That's caused me to spade
I said I wouldn't let you down
But it's like we've both have changed some how
You've made a disease of this town
And you act like you don't care
But you left
Your tears on the runway
You think you're running away
You're leaving all your troubles behind
But I'm not going with you this time
I don't wanna try to pretend I'm somebody else
Take me as I am or be left alone
Tears on the runway (run away)
You know that you love the chase
With your tears on the runway
This hate with us is flying south if you know what I mean
But I'm trying my best to keep you right here in my city
A wise women said I wish people weren't afraid of love
Then she packed her shit and she ran like a coward
When the thunder struck
Things aren't always picture perfect
But picture us on top cause we're worth it
So go and get your ticket and grab your sweater
I used to live for the chase
But now I know better
Your tears on the runway
You think you're running away
You're leaving all your troubles behind
But I'm not going with you this time
I don't wanna try to pretend I'm somebody else
Take me as I am or be left alone
Tears on the runway (run away)
You know that you love the chase
I love the chase
You know that I love the chase
Lyrics submitted by YourCullingSong
Tears on the Runway, Pt. 2 Lyrics as written by Andrea Landis Adrian Rebollo
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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God, I love all the versions of Tears on the Runway. Tyler's version, the acoustic, and this one are all amazing.
Anyway, this is about a really complex relationship that is influenced by distance and poor communication. They don't want to quite end it, but at the same time, they don't want to keep up the work it takes to be in their hard relationship.
"I used to live for the chase, but now I know better."
They once enjoyed the distance and complexity, and still do to some extent, but it's grown tiresome.
Also, I think the runway (as in, a plane runway) is a metaphor for leaving the relationship; they left their "tears on the runway," meaning they were sad when they left, but knew they would come back at some point because "they love the chase."