"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 am an American aquarium drinker
I assassin down the avenue
I'm hidin' out in the big city blinkin'
What was I thinkin' when I let go of you?
Let's forget about the tongue-tied lightning
Let's undress just like cross-eyed strangers
This is not a joke, so please stop smiling
What was I thinkin' when I said it didn't hurt?
I wanna glide through those brown eyes dreamin'
Take it from the inside, baby, hold on tight
You were so right when you said I've been drinkin'
What was I thinkin' when we said goodnight?
I wanna hold you in the Bible-black predawn
You're quite a quiet domino, bury me now
Take off your Band-Aid 'cause I don't believe in touchdowns
What was I thinkin' when we said hello?
I always thought that if I held you tightly
You would always love me like you did back then
Then I fell asleep and the city kept blinkin'
What was I thinkin' when I let you back in?
I am trying to break your heart
I am trying to break your heart
But still I'd be lying if I said it wasn't easy
I am trying to break your heart
Disposable Dixie-cup drinkin'
I assassin down the avenue
I'm hidin' out in the big city blinkin'
What was I thinkin' when I let go of you?
Loves you
I'm the man who loves you
I assassin down the avenue
I'm hidin' out in the big city blinkin'
What was I thinkin' when I let go of you?
Let's forget about the tongue-tied lightning
Let's undress just like cross-eyed strangers
This is not a joke, so please stop smiling
What was I thinkin' when I said it didn't hurt?
I wanna glide through those brown eyes dreamin'
Take it from the inside, baby, hold on tight
You were so right when you said I've been drinkin'
What was I thinkin' when we said goodnight?
I wanna hold you in the Bible-black predawn
You're quite a quiet domino, bury me now
Take off your Band-Aid 'cause I don't believe in touchdowns
What was I thinkin' when we said hello?
I always thought that if I held you tightly
You would always love me like you did back then
Then I fell asleep and the city kept blinkin'
What was I thinkin' when I let you back in?
I am trying to break your heart
I am trying to break your heart
But still I'd be lying if I said it wasn't easy
I am trying to break your heart
Disposable Dixie-cup drinkin'
I assassin down the avenue
I'm hidin' out in the big city blinkin'
What was I thinkin' when I let go of you?
Loves you
I'm the man who loves you
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Fast Car
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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"disposable dixie cup drinker" perhaps indicates that the man in the song has come so apart that he's way beyond "aquarium drinking" and visiting a methadone clinic on the avenue regularly where it's dispensed in juice in a dixie cup, or alternatively in a mental facility where meds are dispensed by dixie cup. I love this song, I love this album, I love this writer.
I like this idea. Makes sense to me. I think he goes insane after she leaves. "What was i thinking when i let go of you" hence him getting meds in a dixie cup, and this also explains the change in the mood of the song as we reach the end, with all the weird sounds, and bells ringing, and the noise, and the sloppily strummed chords.
@ommmm ohhh that makes sense. At the end he's repeating his mistakes! Still assassining (?!) down the avenue, hiding out in the city, wondering why he let go of her. Hasn't learned. Same error, different drug.