"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.
A certain shade of green
Tell me, is that what you need?
All signs around say, "Move ahead"
Could someone please explain to me
You're ever present lack of speed?
Are your muscles bound by ropes
Or do crutches cloud your day?
My sources say, "The road is clear
And street signs point the way"
Are you gonna stand around 'til 2012 A.D?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
Would a written invitation
Signed, "Choose now or lose it all"
Sedate your hesitation
Or inflame and make you stall?
You've been raised in limitation
But that glove never fit quite right
The time has passed for hand-me-downs
Choose a new, please evolve
Take flight
Are you gonna stand around 'til 2012 a.d?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
(Talk that thing)
Green?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin' for?
Waitin' for?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
Are you gonna stand around till 2012 A.D?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
What are you waitin' for?
Tell me, is that what you need?
All signs around say, "Move ahead"
Could someone please explain to me
You're ever present lack of speed?
Are your muscles bound by ropes
Or do crutches cloud your day?
My sources say, "The road is clear
And street signs point the way"
Are you gonna stand around 'til 2012 A.D?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
Would a written invitation
Signed, "Choose now or lose it all"
Sedate your hesitation
Or inflame and make you stall?
You've been raised in limitation
But that glove never fit quite right
The time has passed for hand-me-downs
Choose a new, please evolve
Take flight
Are you gonna stand around 'til 2012 a.d?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
(Talk that thing)
Green?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin' for?
Waitin' for?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
Are you gonna stand around till 2012 A.D?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
What are you waitin' for?
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I always felt it's a song urging progression for one to move on to try and achieve happiness or ones goals/dreams. "What are you waiting for? A certain shade of green?" as someone waiting for everything to be perfect before starting work but something is always off so they continuously procrastinate for various reasons.. Song urges that the time to go and achieve your goals and get your desires is now. "2012 ad" could be are you going to do nothing until the year comes? or simply are you going to procrastinate and do nothing until you die?
Some other good interpretations here though.