"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.
Yeah, yeah, mmmmm
No, I won't make up my mind
I'm too good at wastin' time
And I know, life is unpredictable
Just never know what I will find
Am I gonna stay, oh no
Am I gonna leave, I don't think so
I guess I can define me as that kinda guy
Maybe it's a big mistake
But baby that's the chance that I'll take
You say I don't know what I want
But it worked out just fine
You said it never could be done
But it worked out just fine, oh
You can say anything you want
But it worked out just fine
If it works for me
Then it works for me
If it works for me
Then it works for me
I can't forget the things you said
Your words keep running through my head
And I know you're just trying to help me out
Thanks, but I'll follow my heart instead
Am I gonna stay, oh no
Am I gonna leave, I don't think so
I can't decide between the left side or the right
Maybe it's a big mistake
But baby that's the chance that I'll take, oh yeah
You say I don't know what I want
But it worked out just fine
You said it never could be done
But it worked out just fine, oh
You can say anything you want
But it worked out just fine
If it works for me
Then it works for me
If it works for me
Then it works for me
There were days when a song could not be found
There were days when my voice would make no sound for me, for me
But I don't worry about it where I'm goin'
'Cause I know just where I'm wanna be
And it's time for you to see
You say I don't know what I want
But it worked out just fine
You said it never could be done
But it worked out just fine, oh
You can say anything you want
But it worked out just fine
If it works for me
Then it works for me
If it works for me
Then it works for me
No, I won't make up my mind
I'm too good at wastin' time
And I know, life is unpredictable
Just never know what I will find
Am I gonna stay, oh no
Am I gonna leave, I don't think so
I guess I can define me as that kinda guy
Maybe it's a big mistake
But baby that's the chance that I'll take
You say I don't know what I want
But it worked out just fine
You said it never could be done
But it worked out just fine, oh
You can say anything you want
But it worked out just fine
If it works for me
Then it works for me
If it works for me
Then it works for me
I can't forget the things you said
Your words keep running through my head
And I know you're just trying to help me out
Thanks, but I'll follow my heart instead
Am I gonna stay, oh no
Am I gonna leave, I don't think so
I can't decide between the left side or the right
Maybe it's a big mistake
But baby that's the chance that I'll take, oh yeah
You say I don't know what I want
But it worked out just fine
You said it never could be done
But it worked out just fine, oh
You can say anything you want
But it worked out just fine
If it works for me
Then it works for me
If it works for me
Then it works for me
There were days when a song could not be found
There were days when my voice would make no sound for me, for me
But I don't worry about it where I'm goin'
'Cause I know just where I'm wanna be
And it's time for you to see
You say I don't know what I want
But it worked out just fine
You said it never could be done
But it worked out just fine, oh
You can say anything you want
But it worked out just fine
If it works for me
Then it works for me
If it works for me
Then it works for me
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