For My Sunday Song #112, I am going to talk about “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman. Released on April 6th, 1988, and on her self-titled album, “Fast Car” was a massive hit reaching all the way to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. I remember seeing the video on MTV and thinking what an amazing and beautiful song. It was not like anything else on the radio at the time.
The song is an acoustical track with just Tracy, an acoustic guitar and some percussion. Tracy is a folk pop or folk rock singer and her haunting vocals are so impactful and heartfelt that you believe the hardships this person is facing. It was her vocals performance that made me fall in love with this song (and this album). It was the most honest performance from I song I had heard on the radio at that time. It made me think, if she could write such a powerful song, what else can she write about. And the album doesn’t disappoint.
The song is about a young woman who has grown up with a very rough life. Her dad is an alcoholic and her mom left them. She had to quit school to take care of her dad and they were very poor. She has a boyfriend and she dreams about taking a fast car and driving to the city and starting over and having a better life in the city. Sadly, her boyfriend is a drunk just like her dad and she can’t break free from the hold poverty has on her world. Such a sad song and story, yet it is so beautiful.
Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. I do hope you enjoy it and have a Happy Sunday!
“Fast Car”
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Any place is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we’ll make something
Me myself I got nothing to prove
You got a fast car
I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
Won’t have to drive too far
Just ‘cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living
See my old man’s got a problem
He live with the bottle that’s the way it is
He says his body’s too old for working
His body’s too young to look like his
My mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said somebody’s got to take care of him
So I quit school and that’s what I did
You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so we can fly away?
We gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way
So remember when we were driving driving in your car
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped ’round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
You got a fast car
We go cruising, entertain ourselves
You still ain’t got a job
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted
We’ll move out of the shelter
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs
So remember when we were driving driving in your car
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped ’round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
You got a fast car
I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I’d always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me find it
I got no plans I ain’t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving
So remember when we were driving driving in your car
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped ’round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so you can fly away?
You gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way
Written by Tracy Chapman
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
This song was indeed huge. It had a sound that was exact opposite of what was dominating the charts at the time!
Nice writeup on bringing back tunes of yesteryear!
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You are right. She was not like anything else at the time. I think that was the draw for me. Plus that voice was so unique and amazing.
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An absolute classic. I have to be honest I don’t know much of her music beyond this song though
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I love your blog so I nominated you for an award. 🙂
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Thanks so much. I appreciate the recognition.
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A great song and refreshing to hear Chapman sing it, given how often I hear buskers play it!
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Excellent choice for a Sunday tune – I love the song structure, she makes us wait for the chorus!
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You are right, she does make you wait and it is worth the wait for me.
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You bet, the song literally takes off
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Huge in England. This album reminds me of a trip to Greece with a friend. We only had one cassette for a Walkman. It was Tracy on one side and Maxi Priest on the other and we shared an ear plug a piece 😀
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as we lay on the beach. Great sounds all round.
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Another nice memory for you. I had a walkman back in that day…but who didn’t.
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Pure greatness.
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Great song. It just sounded different when it came out .. You can’t say that about many tracks.
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No you can’t. What I like is that it sounds just as good today as it did then. It is timeless.
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Very much so
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