Fast Car Lyrics

fast car lyrics Tracy Chapman

Fast Car is a song released by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman in 1988. It was released from her self-titled debut album, and has since been an iconic musical masterpiece not only for its slow but heavy deep rock themes but as well as for its representation of generational poverty among the American youth in the 1980s.

Lyrics

You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere

Anyplace is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we’ll make something
But me myself I got nothing to prove

You got a fast car
And 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
We 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

You 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
I say 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

—————-

Plot

Fast Car discusses the typical life of an American teenage struggling to live life out of poverty. In a situation where the parents are divorced, unemployed and addicted to vices, children become compelled to work rather than finish their studies, land on meager jobs and run away from home. The song entails a cycle of life of poverty, where the individual could not do anything but hope that things will become better sooner or later.

The song also served as a semi-autobiographical account of Chapman’s life before becoming a musician. Having been raised only by her mother in an impoverished household, Chapman was able to use her experiences on the song.

—————-
You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
We leave tonight or live and die this way

I remember we were driving driving in your car
The 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
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
And we go cruising to 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 big house and live in the suburbs
You got a fast car
And 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 would find it
I got no plans I ain’t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving

You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way

Reception of Tracy Chapman Fast Car lyrics:

Because of its graphic and metaphorical representation of the impoverished youth of America, Fast Car received both critical and commercial acclaim. It was also the song Chapman performed on her appearance on the Nelson Mandela 70^th Birthday Tribute; the event served as an impetus for the song to rise to the charts. It landed number 6 at the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 5 on the UK chart.

The song returned to the top of the UK singles chart in April 2011, after it was covered by Michael Collings in his audition at Britain’s Got Talent. The cover version of the song landed at number 4 at the UK charts.

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