"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.
Just another lesson, no regrets (Ay)
150 Grands and I bet it on myself (Yeah)
150 Songs and I did it by myself (Ay)
150 Ls couldn't put me on the shelf (No)
Niggas playing checkers while we out here playing chess
And them dubs, we come and collect
Everytime I shoot, it's double "bang!" like I'm Steph
Always feeling special with the diamond on my neck
Holla like LeBron, tell 'em "give me my respect"
"We just want our respect, Rob wants his respect
Coach Vogel wanted his respect, organization want their respect
Laker Nation want their respect... and I want my damn respect, too"
Gotta let them know how it goes
Gotta let them know like the Cavs' Frohio
Always taking risks, that's the only way to grow
Fighting silent battles, rest in peace Virgil Abloh
Yeah that's the reason I stay on the low
Why you think I'm making moves on my tippy toes?
Why you think I always look intense like Piccolo?
You won't see me coming with the Makkankosappo
Just another dub, nothing new
Feeding off my style, they take a bite and they chew
Holla like Mark Henry, tell 'em "this is what I do"
Nike duffel bags that I'm bringing to the stu'
Hertha jersey on me, legendary like Kalou
And just like Berlin, I was divided
Papirates and Stunna P double-sided
I had to get Kurayami to come outside then
I had to bring Kurayami to get the... (Wooh)
Gotta let them know how it goes
Gotta let them know like the Cavs' Frohio
Always taking risks, that's the only way to grow
Fighting silent battles, rest in peace Virgil Abloh
Yeah, that's the reason I stay on the low
Why you think I'm making moves on my tippy toes?
Why you think I always look intense like Piccolo?
You won't see me coming with the Makkankosappo
Just another lesson no regrets
150 Thousand and I bet it on myself
150 Songs and I did it by myself
150 Ls couldn't put me on the shelf
Niggas playing checkers while we out here playing chess
And them dubs, we come and collect
Everytime I shoot, it's double "bang!" like I'm Steph
Always feeling special with the diamond on my neck
Shorty who gave it to me was in love and obsessed
150 Grands and I bet it on myself (Yeah)
150 Songs and I did it by myself (Ay)
150 Ls couldn't put me on the shelf (No)
Niggas playing checkers while we out here playing chess
And them dubs, we come and collect
Everytime I shoot, it's double "bang!" like I'm Steph
Always feeling special with the diamond on my neck
Holla like LeBron, tell 'em "give me my respect"
"We just want our respect, Rob wants his respect
Coach Vogel wanted his respect, organization want their respect
Laker Nation want their respect... and I want my damn respect, too"
Gotta let them know how it goes
Gotta let them know like the Cavs' Frohio
Always taking risks, that's the only way to grow
Fighting silent battles, rest in peace Virgil Abloh
Yeah that's the reason I stay on the low
Why you think I'm making moves on my tippy toes?
Why you think I always look intense like Piccolo?
You won't see me coming with the Makkankosappo
Just another dub, nothing new
Feeding off my style, they take a bite and they chew
Holla like Mark Henry, tell 'em "this is what I do"
Nike duffel bags that I'm bringing to the stu'
Hertha jersey on me, legendary like Kalou
And just like Berlin, I was divided
Papirates and Stunna P double-sided
I had to get Kurayami to come outside then
I had to bring Kurayami to get the... (Wooh)
Gotta let them know how it goes
Gotta let them know like the Cavs' Frohio
Always taking risks, that's the only way to grow
Fighting silent battles, rest in peace Virgil Abloh
Yeah, that's the reason I stay on the low
Why you think I'm making moves on my tippy toes?
Why you think I always look intense like Piccolo?
You won't see me coming with the Makkankosappo
Just another lesson no regrets
150 Thousand and I bet it on myself
150 Songs and I did it by myself
150 Ls couldn't put me on the shelf
Niggas playing checkers while we out here playing chess
And them dubs, we come and collect
Everytime I shoot, it's double "bang!" like I'm Steph
Always feeling special with the diamond on my neck
Shorty who gave it to me was in love and obsessed
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