"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.
Verse 1: Brother Marquis
You tried to play hard, but we pulled your cord
You're just a do-boy 'cause your boss is in charge
Tryin' to play big money, ain't it sad, ain't it funny
You're so blind you can't see that you're really playin' dummy
Gucci rags and Bronze, shinin' grills of chrome
Frontin' in a caddy you don't even own
You're soft, and you know that we know it
You try to hide it, but can't help but show it
Now the trues and vogues pull the hoes with nice figures
But on the 'ave, you're a pussy-ass nigga!
Verse 2: Fresh Kid Ice
Pussy-ass nigga with pistol in hand
Comin' out of my room to the next man
It's a problem you had since you were a child
Always tryin' to be down but actin' stupid and wild
I remember way back just to be exact
We laughed at your ass when you got jacked
So, fuck-ass nigga, here's something to remember:
No matter what you try, you're a pussy-ass nigga!
Verse 3
[Kid Ice] You fix up your hoes like you fix your cars
Give 'em rag-top heads, make 'em project stars
You buy 'em Gucci bags, even Louie Baton
Spendin' all your money just to get some
[Marquis] And when you go out of town and stand on stage
Gettin' jerked by the man instead of paid
Now put a gun to your head, then pull the trigger,
Now rest in peace, pussy-ass nigga!
You tried to play hard, but we pulled your cord
You're just a do-boy 'cause your boss is in charge
Tryin' to play big money, ain't it sad, ain't it funny
You're so blind you can't see that you're really playin' dummy
Gucci rags and Bronze, shinin' grills of chrome
Frontin' in a caddy you don't even own
You're soft, and you know that we know it
You try to hide it, but can't help but show it
Now the trues and vogues pull the hoes with nice figures
But on the 'ave, you're a pussy-ass nigga!
Verse 2: Fresh Kid Ice
Pussy-ass nigga with pistol in hand
Comin' out of my room to the next man
It's a problem you had since you were a child
Always tryin' to be down but actin' stupid and wild
I remember way back just to be exact
We laughed at your ass when you got jacked
So, fuck-ass nigga, here's something to remember:
No matter what you try, you're a pussy-ass nigga!
Verse 3
[Kid Ice] You fix up your hoes like you fix your cars
Give 'em rag-top heads, make 'em project stars
You buy 'em Gucci bags, even Louie Baton
Spendin' all your money just to get some
[Marquis] And when you go out of town and stand on stage
Gettin' jerked by the man instead of paid
Now put a gun to your head, then pull the trigger,
Now rest in peace, pussy-ass nigga!
Lyrics submitted by Ice
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