"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.
Five miles outside of Vegas when we broke down
Threw my keys inside that window
And we never looked back
We got all drunk and sloppy on a Greyhound bus
We passed out cold so all them losers
They were laughing at us
I will never let them break your heart
I will never let them break me
We got lost in Phoenix
Seemed like such a long time
Seven months of living sweaty
On those thin white lines
I did some time
For selling acid to the wrong guy
Life just keeps on getting smaller
And we never ask why
Why there is no perfect place
Yes I know this is true
I'm just learning how to smile
And that's not easy to do
I know there will come a day
When we can leave
And just go running away
(Oooh yeah)
We were broke outside of Philly
When the storms came
I was working in New Jersey
Hitching rides in the rain
You was happy talking dirty
At that phone sex place
Life just keeps on getting weirder for us
Everyday
You say there is no perfect place
I say I know this is true
We are just learning how to smile
And that's not easy to do
We both live for the day
When we can run away (hey...hey)
Ah baby we can leave
And run away (hey...hey)
We can leave this place
And run away (hey...hey)
We can leave it all behind
Just like we do everytime
Yes we both live for the day
When we can leave
And just go running away
No I will never let it break your heart
No I will never let it break me
Five miles outside of Vegas
Five years down the line
We got married in the desert
In the sunshine
I can handle all the hell
That happens everyday
When you smile and touch my face
You make it all go away
Yes I know there ain't no finish line
I know this never ends
We are learning how to fall
And climb back up again
I know there is nothing perfect
I know there is nothing new
We are just learning
How to live together
Me and you
You know I live for the day
When you say "baby let's just run away"
Ah baby we can leave
And run away (hey... hey)
Yes we can leave this place
And run away (hey...hey)
Baby we can leave
And run away (hey... hey)
Yes we can leave this place
And run away (hey... hey) [Repeat: x5]
Threw my keys inside that window
And we never looked back
We got all drunk and sloppy on a Greyhound bus
We passed out cold so all them losers
They were laughing at us
I will never let them break your heart
I will never let them break me
We got lost in Phoenix
Seemed like such a long time
Seven months of living sweaty
On those thin white lines
I did some time
For selling acid to the wrong guy
Life just keeps on getting smaller
And we never ask why
Why there is no perfect place
Yes I know this is true
I'm just learning how to smile
And that's not easy to do
I know there will come a day
When we can leave
And just go running away
(Oooh yeah)
We were broke outside of Philly
When the storms came
I was working in New Jersey
Hitching rides in the rain
You was happy talking dirty
At that phone sex place
Life just keeps on getting weirder for us
Everyday
You say there is no perfect place
I say I know this is true
We are just learning how to smile
And that's not easy to do
We both live for the day
When we can run away (hey...hey)
Ah baby we can leave
And run away (hey...hey)
We can leave this place
And run away (hey...hey)
We can leave it all behind
Just like we do everytime
Yes we both live for the day
When we can leave
And just go running away
No I will never let it break your heart
No I will never let it break me
Five miles outside of Vegas
Five years down the line
We got married in the desert
In the sunshine
I can handle all the hell
That happens everyday
When you smile and touch my face
You make it all go away
Yes I know there ain't no finish line
I know this never ends
We are learning how to fall
And climb back up again
I know there is nothing perfect
I know there is nothing new
We are just learning
How to live together
Me and you
You know I live for the day
When you say "baby let's just run away"
Ah baby we can leave
And run away (hey... hey)
Yes we can leave this place
And run away (hey...hey)
Baby we can leave
And run away (hey... hey)
Yes we can leave this place
And run away (hey... hey) [Repeat: x5]
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