"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.
I called you today
Just to hear you say
You were not around
The message was through
Though I wanted to
I couldn't make a sound
I want to tell you the things that I've seen
I want to take you to where ever I've been
And I wish you were here with me
(Don't you know it)
I really miss you, (Yes I do yeah)
I really miss you (Oh yeah I do)
I'm writing to say, I had a wonderful day hanging with my friends
But the memory dies as the sun hits the sky
I'm alone again
I want to tell you the weather is fine
When the night comes around you were on my mind
And I wish you were here with me
I really miss you (yes I do yeah)
I really miss you (I miss you)
I really miss you (I miss you)
Just to hear you say
You were not around
The message was through
Though I wanted to
I couldn't make a sound
I want to tell you the things that I've seen
I want to take you to where ever I've been
And I wish you were here with me
(Don't you know it)
I really miss you, (Yes I do yeah)
I really miss you (Oh yeah I do)
I'm writing to say, I had a wonderful day hanging with my friends
But the memory dies as the sun hits the sky
I'm alone again
I want to tell you the weather is fine
When the night comes around you were on my mind
And I wish you were here with me
I really miss you (yes I do yeah)
I really miss you (I miss you)
I really miss you (I miss you)
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Well, it seems to me that this person singing doesn't see this guy she likes, that often. They could be really good friends and the guys probably really social and is always out and about and busy. The girl misses him a lot and she wants to tell him that but she can't (I have no idea why)
This song also doesn't have to be taken romantically, it can just be about a family member or yeah a friend, not technically a love interest. They just miss being around someone fun and hanging with them.