"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.
Get up in the morning, get on the bus
Get up in the morning like the rest of us
Places to go, important people to meet
Better not get up or you might lose your seat
(Bus rider)
Leave the house at six o'clock to be on time
Leave the wife and kids at home to make a dime
Grab your lunch pail, check for mail in your slot
You won't get your cheque if you don't punch the clock
(Bus rider)
(Bus rider)
Grab the evening paper, and sit down in your chair
Grab yourself a toupee, 'cause you're losing your hair
Doesn't matter what you do, you've nothing to lose
I'm so awful goddamn glad I'm not in your shoes
(Bus rider)
(Bus rider)
You know you'll ride it every single morning today
(Bus rider)
Ride, ride, little man
(Bus rider)
I don't want to ride, no I don't want to ride
(Bus rider)
Get up in the morning, get on the bus
(Bus rider)
Oh, little man riding upside down, yeah
(Bus rider)
Mm, no I don't want to ride
(Bus rider)
Get up in the morning like the rest of us
Places to go, important people to meet
Better not get up or you might lose your seat
(Bus rider)
Leave the house at six o'clock to be on time
Leave the wife and kids at home to make a dime
Grab your lunch pail, check for mail in your slot
You won't get your cheque if you don't punch the clock
(Bus rider)
(Bus rider)
Grab the evening paper, and sit down in your chair
Grab yourself a toupee, 'cause you're losing your hair
Doesn't matter what you do, you've nothing to lose
I'm so awful goddamn glad I'm not in your shoes
(Bus rider)
(Bus rider)
You know you'll ride it every single morning today
(Bus rider)
Ride, ride, little man
(Bus rider)
I don't want to ride, no I don't want to ride
(Bus rider)
Get up in the morning, get on the bus
(Bus rider)
Oh, little man riding upside down, yeah
(Bus rider)
Mm, no I don't want to ride
(Bus rider)
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yet another awesome song...why has no one posted on these...it's so confusing