"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.
To be someone must be a wonderful thing
a famous footballer or rock singer
or a big film star
yes i think that i would like, i would like that
to be rich and have a lot of fans
have a lot of girls to prove that i'm a man
to be number one and liked by everyone
getting drunk out with my trendy friends
they really dig me man and i dig them
and the money that i spend
it is like my fame, and it's quickly gone
no more swimming in my guitar shaped pool
no more reporters at my beckon call
no more cocaine it's only ground chalk
and no more taxis, now we have to walk
but didn't we have a nice time?
yea wasn't it such a nice time?
didn't we have a nice time?
i realize i should have stuck to my guns
they shook me out just like a bastard son
and i lost myself and i know that it was wrong
but it cost me a lot
theres no more drinking when the club shuts down
i'm out here on my ass with the rest of the clowns
i'm really scared without my body-guard
and i'm sitting on my own in my expensive yacht
but didn't i have a nice time?
wasn't it such a nice time?
didn't i have a nice time?
wasn't it such a nice time?
did i have anice time?
did i have a nice time?
i can't remember if i had a nice time
To be someone must be a wonderful thing
ain't that the truth
a famous footballer or rock singer
or a big film star
yes i think that i would like, i would like that
to be rich and have a lot of fans
have a lot of girls to prove that i'm a man
to be number one and liked by everyone
getting drunk out with my trendy friends
they really dig me man and i dig them
and the money that i spend
it is like my fame, and it's quickly gone
no more swimming in my guitar shaped pool
no more reporters at my beckon call
no more cocaine it's only ground chalk
and no more taxis, now we have to walk
but didn't we have a nice time?
yea wasn't it such a nice time?
didn't we have a nice time?
i realize i should have stuck to my guns
they shook me out just like a bastard son
and i lost myself and i know that it was wrong
but it cost me a lot
theres no more drinking when the club shuts down
i'm out here on my ass with the rest of the clowns
i'm really scared without my body-guard
and i'm sitting on my own in my expensive yacht
but didn't i have a nice time?
wasn't it such a nice time?
didn't i have a nice time?
wasn't it such a nice time?
did i have anice time?
did i have a nice time?
i can't remember if i had a nice time
To be someone must be a wonderful thing
ain't that the truth
Lyrics submitted by zim182
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