"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.
Can you still remember
How it seemed that we could live forever in a lovers dream?
And falling was the best part but now you know
the things you cling to
Your heart can start to grow.
You, you're walking away.
I've been there now I know what to say I'm the king of
yesterday.
A silly little love song for myself.
It's all I ever do you know I shine the shell.
A pretty little picture, the face of you.
You were my setting sun and now you're every view.
You, you're walking away
I've been there now I know what to say
I'm the king of yesterday.
Why don't, why don't, why don't you stay?
Why don't you stay? why don't you stay? why don't you stay?
Take a little time, throw it on the line.
Let me believe that you believe in me.
Baby turn around, look at what I found.
You are the one that I want.
Take a little time, throw it on the line.
Let me believe that you believe in me.
Baby turn around, look at what I found.
You were the one that I wanted.
And someday I'll be over on my own.
Believing all the legends of the loves I've known
And seeing you in summer the way we were when you were seventeen
You know I much preferred you walking away.
I've been here, now I know what to say
I'm the king of yesterday.
Why don't, why don't, why don't you stay?
Why don't you stay? why don't you stay with me? stay.
Take a little time, throw it on the line.
Let me believe that you believe in me.
Baby turn around, look at what I found.
You are the one that I want.
Take a little time, throw it on the line.
Let me believe that you believe in me.
Baby turn around, look at what I found.
You were the one that I wanted.
You were the one that I wanted.
King of yesterday.
King of yesterday.
How it seemed that we could live forever in a lovers dream?
And falling was the best part but now you know
the things you cling to
Your heart can start to grow.
You, you're walking away.
I've been there now I know what to say I'm the king of
yesterday.
A silly little love song for myself.
It's all I ever do you know I shine the shell.
A pretty little picture, the face of you.
You were my setting sun and now you're every view.
You, you're walking away
I've been there now I know what to say
I'm the king of yesterday.
Why don't, why don't, why don't you stay?
Why don't you stay? why don't you stay? why don't you stay?
Take a little time, throw it on the line.
Let me believe that you believe in me.
Baby turn around, look at what I found.
You are the one that I want.
Take a little time, throw it on the line.
Let me believe that you believe in me.
Baby turn around, look at what I found.
You were the one that I wanted.
And someday I'll be over on my own.
Believing all the legends of the loves I've known
And seeing you in summer the way we were when you were seventeen
You know I much preferred you walking away.
I've been here, now I know what to say
I'm the king of yesterday.
Why don't, why don't, why don't you stay?
Why don't you stay? why don't you stay with me? stay.
Take a little time, throw it on the line.
Let me believe that you believe in me.
Baby turn around, look at what I found.
You are the one that I want.
Take a little time, throw it on the line.
Let me believe that you believe in me.
Baby turn around, look at what I found.
You were the one that I wanted.
You were the one that I wanted.
King of yesterday.
King of yesterday.
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