"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.
woke up at eight, started a fire
had a few drinks, we all felt inspired
jumped in the stream, our shoes and canteens
the water is bitter cold
laid in the raft till it started moving
the current just sang, the song was so soothing
we stopped along the way
on a beach in the sun on a beautiful day
our boats collide, we feel the breeze
we stay afloat and make the most of everything
by noon we had swung the ropes in the woods
missed all dangers, snakes and the floods
burned by the rays and next to our legs, the water so bitter cold
lunch had been saved along with the lighters
wet cigarettes serve us as reminders
never trust a man with food, change of clothes, and a drink in his hand
our boats collide, we feel the breeze
we stay afloat and make the most of everything
the sun will set, the stars would shine
the trees would shake, we'd all feel fine
let's take the moon and make it shine for everyone
we'd laugh away the sunburn
as we laughed away his day
what we lost means nothing
for the memories will stay
caught the last bus, with no time to linger
driver seemed to be missing a finger
I turned and looked away to the bus, gravel road and a beautiful day
our boats collide, we feel the breeze
we stay afloat and make the most of everything
the sun will set, the stars would shine
the trees would shake, we'd all feel fine
let's take the moon and make it shine for everyone
let's take the moon and make it shine for everyone
had a few drinks, we all felt inspired
jumped in the stream, our shoes and canteens
the water is bitter cold
laid in the raft till it started moving
the current just sang, the song was so soothing
we stopped along the way
on a beach in the sun on a beautiful day
our boats collide, we feel the breeze
we stay afloat and make the most of everything
by noon we had swung the ropes in the woods
missed all dangers, snakes and the floods
burned by the rays and next to our legs, the water so bitter cold
lunch had been saved along with the lighters
wet cigarettes serve us as reminders
never trust a man with food, change of clothes, and a drink in his hand
our boats collide, we feel the breeze
we stay afloat and make the most of everything
the sun will set, the stars would shine
the trees would shake, we'd all feel fine
let's take the moon and make it shine for everyone
we'd laugh away the sunburn
as we laughed away his day
what we lost means nothing
for the memories will stay
caught the last bus, with no time to linger
driver seemed to be missing a finger
I turned and looked away to the bus, gravel road and a beautiful day
our boats collide, we feel the breeze
we stay afloat and make the most of everything
the sun will set, the stars would shine
the trees would shake, we'd all feel fine
let's take the moon and make it shine for everyone
let's take the moon and make it shine for everyone
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