"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.
Hummin'
All the way to Reno
You've dusted the non-believers
And challenged the laws of chance
Now sweeter
You're so sugar sweet
You may as well have had Kick Me
Fastened on your sleeve
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star
"Wing" is written on your feet
Your Achilles' heel
Is the tendency
To dream
But you've know that from the beginning
You didn't have to go so far
You didn't have to go
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star
You know who you are
You know who you are
You know who you are
Hummin'
All the way to Reno
You've written your own directions
And whistled the rules have changed
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star (star)
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star (star)
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star (star)
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star (star)
Hummin'
All the way to Reno
All the way to Reno
All the way to Reno
You're gonna be a star, you are, you are
You're gonna be a star
You're gonna be a star, you are, you are
You're gonna be a star
All the way to Reno
You've dusted the non-believers
And challenged the laws of chance
Now sweeter
You're so sugar sweet
You may as well have had Kick Me
Fastened on your sleeve
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star
"Wing" is written on your feet
Your Achilles' heel
Is the tendency
To dream
But you've know that from the beginning
You didn't have to go so far
You didn't have to go
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star
You know who you are
You know who you are
You know who you are
Hummin'
All the way to Reno
You've written your own directions
And whistled the rules have changed
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star (star)
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star (star)
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star (star)
You know what you are
You're gonna be a star (star)
Hummin'
All the way to Reno
All the way to Reno
All the way to Reno
You're gonna be a star, you are, you are
You're gonna be a star
You're gonna be a star, you are, you are
You're gonna be a star
Lyrics submitted by xpankfrisst, edited by CassidyAnn
All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be A Star) Lyrics as written by Mike Mills Peter Buck
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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