"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.
Look out ahead
I see danger come
I want a pistol
I want a gun
I'm scared baby
I wanna run
This world's crazy
Give me the gun
Baby, baby
Ain't it true
I'm immortal
When I'm with you
But I want a pistol
In my hand
I wanna go to
A different land
I met a man
He told me straight
"You gotta leave
It's getting late"
Too many cops
Too many guns
All trying to do something
No-one else has done
Baby, baby
Ain't it true
I'm immortal
When I 'm with you
But I want a pistol
In my hand
I wanna go to
A different land
Sometimes it rains so hard
And I feel the hurt
In my heart
Feels like the end of the world
I see the children
Sharp as knives
I see the children
Dead and alive
Beautiful people
Beautiful girls
I just feel like
It's the end of the world
I walk on concrete
I walk on sand
But I can't find
A safe place to stand
I'm scared baby
I wanna run
This world's crazy
Gimme the gun
Baby, baby
Ain't it true
I'm immortal
When I 'm with you
But I want a pistol
In my hand
I wanna go to
A different land
I see danger come
I want a pistol
I want a gun
I'm scared baby
I wanna run
This world's crazy
Give me the gun
Baby, baby
Ain't it true
I'm immortal
When I'm with you
But I want a pistol
In my hand
I wanna go to
A different land
I met a man
He told me straight
"You gotta leave
It's getting late"
Too many cops
Too many guns
All trying to do something
No-one else has done
Baby, baby
Ain't it true
I'm immortal
When I 'm with you
But I want a pistol
In my hand
I wanna go to
A different land
Sometimes it rains so hard
And I feel the hurt
In my heart
Feels like the end of the world
I see the children
Sharp as knives
I see the children
Dead and alive
Beautiful people
Beautiful girls
I just feel like
It's the end of the world
I walk on concrete
I walk on sand
But I can't find
A safe place to stand
I'm scared baby
I wanna run
This world's crazy
Gimme the gun
Baby, baby
Ain't it true
I'm immortal
When I 'm with you
But I want a pistol
In my hand
I wanna go to
A different land
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I always thought it was her intial reaction to New York City, as apparently she took her time from New York for the inspiration of this album. I think at first she found it to be a big and intimidating city, and felt safe only when she was with someone she was familiar with. But even when with that person she may have felt vulnerable in such a new place.
I completely agree. Also, how NYC represents the American Culture as a whole considering she's an outsider from "across the pond". This song represents what she see's in "American Culture" as a whole. A sense of "Culture Shock" and paranoia. As well as a sense of restraint and hope with a loved one.
@MsSnoopy I think this is a great explanation. The feeling 'immortal' makes me think NYC made her feel free and like she could do anything. But in the same vein, it made her feel scared (hence the imagery of wanting a gun to help her feel 'safe', and having guns is a very American thing). It would have been a bit of a culture shock from England I reckon.