"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.
Maybe like a year from now, it won’t be so hard
once this wound has scabbed over, and this scab turns to a scar. The scar tissue will take its turn, and harden around your heart, and after all this I’ll still hold you in the highest of regard, and if you’re at the bar.
I’ll try to buy you a drink, and ask "hey, girl, what do you think about getting out of here and going somewhere where it is warm the entire year?" where you can show off that skin, that you’re so good at fitting in. I could tell you that you’re the prettiest, but I’m pretty sure you won’t be interested. But there is not a place I’d rather be.
Maybe like 5 days from now, we could have the best time we’ve ever had, if it weren’t for my advanced abilities to fuck shit up so bad. I am still less of a man than times this week I’ve held your hand. I would ask you again to forgive me, but I already know you can’t I just wish I could show you all the lessons I have learned with no you I have half the mind to blow through your front door to tell you no two people should be together quite like this and it would be unfortunate
if I saw you in public, because I made myself a dumb promise that I
Wouldn’t try to buy you a drink, and ask "hey, girl, what do you think about getting out of here and going somewhere where it is warm the entire year?" where you can show off that skin, that you’re so good at fitting in. I could tell you that you’re the prettiest, but I’m pretty sure you won’t be interested.
now there’s still not a place I’d rather be.
once this wound has scabbed over, and this scab turns to a scar. The scar tissue will take its turn, and harden around your heart, and after all this I’ll still hold you in the highest of regard, and if you’re at the bar.
I’ll try to buy you a drink, and ask "hey, girl, what do you think about getting out of here and going somewhere where it is warm the entire year?" where you can show off that skin, that you’re so good at fitting in. I could tell you that you’re the prettiest, but I’m pretty sure you won’t be interested. But there is not a place I’d rather be.
Maybe like 5 days from now, we could have the best time we’ve ever had, if it weren’t for my advanced abilities to fuck shit up so bad. I am still less of a man than times this week I’ve held your hand. I would ask you again to forgive me, but I already know you can’t I just wish I could show you all the lessons I have learned with no you I have half the mind to blow through your front door to tell you no two people should be together quite like this and it would be unfortunate
if I saw you in public, because I made myself a dumb promise that I
Wouldn’t try to buy you a drink, and ask "hey, girl, what do you think about getting out of here and going somewhere where it is warm the entire year?" where you can show off that skin, that you’re so good at fitting in. I could tell you that you’re the prettiest, but I’m pretty sure you won’t be interested.
now there’s still not a place I’d rather be.
Lyrics submitted by DarkwingDan
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