"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.
L.A. Lakers fast break makers
Kinds of the court shake and bake all takers
Back to back is a bad ass fact a claim that remains in tact
M-a-g-i-see see you on the court
Buck has come to play his way and his way is to thwart
M-a-g-i-see magic of the buck
Other teams pray for dreams
But he don't give a [fuck]
Penetrating the lane like a bullet train
Comes the magic blood a telepathic brain
Knucklehead suckers better duck
When the buck comes through like a truck
Scott stops pops and drops it in
On his way back gets a little skin
From the hand of a man named a. c. green
Slam so hard break your t.v. screen
Worthy's hot with his tomahawk
Take it to the hole make your mamma talk
I hate to burst your bubble but triple double trouble
Is coming to your town and he's going to make rubble
L.A. Lakers fast break makers
Kings of the court shake and bake all takers
Back to back is a bad ass fact a claim that remains in tact
Lakers are the team that I watch on the telly
Cause they got more moves
That a bowl full of jelly
The buck stops here - pops - then cheers
A roar through the forum
That deafens my ears
The one and only know if his kind
Sits in a throne
Not for the records that he holds
But for being bald and bold
Kareem Abdul Jabbar
All time great super super star
I hate to burst your bubble but triple double trouble
Is coming to your town and he's going to make rubble
Does anybody want some Magic Johnson
L.A. Lakers fast break makers
Kings of the court shake and bake all takers
Back to back is a bad ass fact a claim that remains in tact
Kinds of the court shake and bake all takers
Back to back is a bad ass fact a claim that remains in tact
M-a-g-i-see see you on the court
Buck has come to play his way and his way is to thwart
M-a-g-i-see magic of the buck
Other teams pray for dreams
But he don't give a [fuck]
Penetrating the lane like a bullet train
Comes the magic blood a telepathic brain
Knucklehead suckers better duck
When the buck comes through like a truck
Scott stops pops and drops it in
On his way back gets a little skin
From the hand of a man named a. c. green
Slam so hard break your t.v. screen
Worthy's hot with his tomahawk
Take it to the hole make your mamma talk
I hate to burst your bubble but triple double trouble
Is coming to your town and he's going to make rubble
L.A. Lakers fast break makers
Kings of the court shake and bake all takers
Back to back is a bad ass fact a claim that remains in tact
Lakers are the team that I watch on the telly
Cause they got more moves
That a bowl full of jelly
The buck stops here - pops - then cheers
A roar through the forum
That deafens my ears
The one and only know if his kind
Sits in a throne
Not for the records that he holds
But for being bald and bold
Kareem Abdul Jabbar
All time great super super star
I hate to burst your bubble but triple double trouble
Is coming to your town and he's going to make rubble
Does anybody want some Magic Johnson
L.A. Lakers fast break makers
Kings of the court shake and bake all takers
Back to back is a bad ass fact a claim that remains in tact
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Fast Car
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these lyrics are missing a chunk. after it says "l. a. lakers fast break makers kings of the court shake and bake all takers back to back is a bad ass fact a claim that remains in tact" the second there are some lyrices that weren't posted