I've loved this song since it was released. More recently, I've studied trauma and adverse childhood conditions, and I can say this song so poignantly captures the desperate plight of so many souls. Look at the way that the first half of the song seems to linger in the same locked pattern - like locked-in patterns of emotional lives. This musical repetition goes on longer than expected: when we think it ought to break into a chorus, it returns to "You got a fast car..." and holds the pattern - building a tension which makes the break, when it comes, more powerful. The chorus "I remember we were driving..." is that emotional outpour, not quite a dam burst, but a surge of desperate hope fueled by one single moment in time where everything felt right, or right enough, in which she glimpsed a fleeting vision of how life could and should be, where she felt she belonged and could be someone. "Be someone, be someone," echoes the desperation of those whose thwarted ambitions are inextricably bound in self-defeating patterns and trauma. And then the musical surge is lost and, true to the nature of emotional dissociation, we return to our pattern - "You got a fast car..." In writing the song, Tracy was surely too young to have technical knowledge of things like trauma and dissociation - and yet it's there - she knew it introspectively, and captured it instinctively as an artist in the lyrics and how they're woven with the music. The song doesn't flinch in honestly portraying that positive dreams aren't enough for so many people, individuals who hold on to their vision for a while, as reality continues to fail to meet it, and as it becomes less real to them, until that one inspiring memory of deeply-felt belonging loses its power as emotional fuel for the future, and dwindles to just a memory of a moment in one's past, though a memory still worth cherishing. The song has been beautifully breaking my heart for 35 years.
I don't watch awards shows ever for reasons I won't get into but I heard about her performance so I found it on RU-vid, I love this song and Give Me One Reason is my favorite of Tracy's.
I loved that a young country kid listening in his dad's car fell in love this not so country song, and then as an adult country music star reaches across the aisle and says let's sing this. While the song will always stand on its own merit as a powerful and moving life story, I like how this has brought diverse musical worlds and experiences together--at least for this one night. Hoping this is the beginning of more bridging divides.
This is real life. Not the internet, not fake influencers with their filters and pretend life. People are struggling- emotionally, mentally, financially.
"leave tonight or live and die this way" is such a deep and powerful lyric. and it just gets more heartbreaking and more amazing to hear the older you get. it resonates so deeply. the entire song is. like i was just rooting for them to make a break for it and make it through life.
We all are on a fast ride, a ride which can end at any moment. Souls ain´t alright nor right with GOD, to go back home. Choosing not to repent and BORN AGAIN, souls still daily live in sins. (Luke: 13:3 KJV) Perishing because of the knowledge, which they didn´t care about knowing. (HOSEA 4:6 KJV)
YESSSS!!!! I genuinely didn't wanna make it past 18.... I didn't wanna be an adult..... but here I am, 24 years old, four kids (2 mine, and my 2 extras 🥹🩶) and I'm starting my own store in a brand new town, and I don't think I've ever been happier..... it truly sucks being a kid, it really fkn does, I wasn't supposed to make it to 16 even (TW! SS attempt) my first attempt was 12/17/15 and, every year I think about just how close I was to losing EVERYTHING I hold dear to my heart.
This is a song about having dreams but ending up stuck with no drive. Pun intended. I was 17 when this song came out and i didn't truly understand it. Now im 53 and it rings very true. This song is a lyrical masterpiece.
for me this is also a song about generational poverty and addiction. amazing how each listener has different interpretations of this song depending on how it resonates with them. a testament to tracy's talent and soul. ❤
For me it's about repeating the cycle while trying to get out of it. Her dad drank and she had to take care of him and her mama wanted more from life and is basically living the same life as her mother, her husband sees more of his friends at the bar then his own kids. 😢
Awesome song. The "Ah-I" added another layer to the feel. I never realized until I saw all of the lyrics that she is basically giving an ultimatum to the other person at the end, telling them to either get responsible or get gone.
I speak Spanish, live in Mexico, but liked this song and bought the LP when I was younger as i could relate to the lyrics, which back then i was able to understand at maybe 50%. Great Tracy!
I listened to this song in highschool and over 20 years later I still thinks it's one of the best songs ever written. It's pretty funny being a white boy singing about being a checkout girl but Tracy's lyrics are relatable to the financial struggles of life and are timeless.
I've loved this song since it 1st came out. (I think it was 1988) It hits just as hard now as it did back then. I miss this kind of music, it make u feel like the artist is just singing from experience. I understand why and share Luke Comb's love of this song, and thanks to him, people are reminded of why our hearts were moved.
As a boy, I remember hearing this song on the radio in my Nan’s 1990s maroon Plymouth Acclaim. We were picking up my older cousin from middle school (He’s married and had a baby now) I totally forgot this song existed until the recent cover by Luke Combs started playing on the radio. I love his version and I’m glad it brought me back to that nice memory
Wish I’d experienced this time! I was born in 98’ and I’m so happy that I’m the last generation that grew up without smartphones,insta,RU-vid list goes on!
Me, I’m here. Such a great moment to see Tracy Chapman again. Hearing this makes me want to cry everything about it is so authentic. But it brings back the best days of my life - this song was sooooo great and still is!
It is a sad song, but a hopeful one. She struggled, and keeps struggling, but she got out. Her future is, if not bright, then at least clear and light. She don’t need that guy and his fast car anymore, because she is in a place where she is happy, okay, and she can keep on improving herself, her life, her kids life, and all of their future. So it is sad, but more in a bittersweet way. And I love the song for that.
Tracy Chapman’s voice is very beautiful and unique and nobody will ever be able to outdo her on this masterpiece. But credit where credit is due, Luke Combs did a gorgeous cover on this by keeping it very traditional. I think he honored this song and Tracy very well in his cover. I like both versions very much, and applause to both singers for both for an amazing job.
I was going through a separation and divorce when this came out after my wife left with our 2 year old daughter. A bleak, sad life. The song hit home. Going back to Jesus broke the cycle. New wife, full life, even a greater relationship with my grown daughter (and older son) as well as 2 more children. Break the cycle
We keep on fighting until our lucky day. Break the cycle of POVERTY. We all should belong. I'll get that fast car 1 day, I just hope I don't fly away too soon🕊️
I’ve listened to this song since the day I was born. I remember when my mom could drive and she’d play this song all the time on the radio. It’s still one of her favorites, and by proxy, also one of mine.
Just had to google the lyrics. When it came out so long ago, i was only hearing part of the lyrics due to the fast tempo. It is one of the greatest songs ever written.
I remember my mother crying to this when. My sister died in 1991 and she never was the same After then the bottle got her im thinking about both as its a shity day idk why i found this we don't get ti pick the life we giving but i am thankful i have it
Fast Car is a beautifully poignant song that captures the essence of hope and longing with an acoustic simplicity that is both powerful and evocative. Tracy Chapman's soulful voice and heartfelt delivery bring to life a narrative of struggle and aspiration, making it a deeply relatable and moving experience. The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of the pursuit of a better life, and its melancholic yet hopeful tone resonates with listeners on a profound level. "Fast Car" is a timeless classic that showcases Chapman's extraordinary ability to convey deep emotion and tell compelling stories through her music.
I completely disagree my friend. “Anybody” cannot replicate this. This is a phenomenal piece of writing and recording. Only the experienced musician can do this justice.
She does…Tracy had at least 8 albums. I just found this out myself. And I bought the album that had the fast car on it from iTunes..! Oh yes, she does , she does! I’ve been listening to whole new songs of Tracy Chapman on RU-vid with lyrics, her lyrics are always SOUL-TOUCHING.,! Timeless, masterpiece..!❤❤❤
A song of two strayed souls. Sought for the same meaning and the same feeling but escaped the reality in painful ways. Two people whose heart beat at the same time but of different rhythm. One who plans the future back from how beautiful it all started and one who failed to find joy no matter how far they travelled along together.
The original and the best. Authentic. Luke Combs is a great country twang cover but Chapmans voice just sounds real and personal to this song. Luke Combs sounds like a really good stage cover for a talent show or something. Can't beat the OG.
I don't expect one artist's rendition to be the same as anyone else's version. Thats why they call them artists. Tracy is best but Luke has a different level of feeling to his voice that is also interesting and moving.
My life is blessed today, but for many years it was a nightmare. It seemed the more I tried to make things better, the more broken they remained. The desire to “run away” thinking it will fix what’s broken (it doesn’t) is profound. 😢
I was in middle school when this song 🎵 came out. I loved it then & to this day I’ve come to love it even more. They DEFINITELY don’t make music like this anymore.
Generational dysfunction passed on over and over, but Tracy Chapman made it, on this particular situation, into a work of art and high sensibility. The song always marvels me but saddens me deeply. Beautiful.
I'm an Assamese. This song reminds me of our Parbati Prasad. Also of Suman as I know Bengali.Both tell us of dream,may be shattered but urge us to continue dreaming.
This song remind me of the time i randomly jumped in a raggedy car with no money and my off the wagon ex and drove from lower alabama to california. Hung up in ass fuxk kansas, ran outt gas with 0 dollars in utah , snowed in a car during a blizzard ,got stranded on oakland and had to walk lmao ..its one of those how tf miracle stories. 😢❤😅 bitter sweet 😂❤
In the Navy, I found this in my seabag inside a battery-operated player to help ride out hurricane Hugo at Rosey Roads, PR in '89 and had it when stuck for the Kuwait invasion (Desert Shield) in '90. Became my "ride or die" music
To all the people who like Luke combs better:no. Sorry but Tracy’s version is THE ORIGINAL AND SOO MUCH BETTER!!!! It’s her song!!!! Luke did a great job yes no doubt but it’s all her ❤❤❤
this is the song i listened to beffoore i left my abusive husband in the 90s my daughter fits the description of how he tormented her and you know i loved to ride in my car ....and finally be some one .. some things change but many remain the same...he kept my daughter out of school....and i finally got the courage to escape with 5 kids to a shelter...so ya this song hits me in many places and i will cherish her words forever thank you ...tracie bless you
I do relate a lot to this music. Sadly when I make it, my Mum died. It hurts till today as she gave all for us and died without experiencing a day without a struggle. We make it somehow. She would be proud of us❤
I lost my Auntie on September 1st , 2021 We used this 🎶 Song on her memorial video with all her pictures 🌹💔 , for me this loss was unbelievable and hard to process This September 1st , will be 3 years and I know she’s watching over me and my Family 💓☮️🦋🦅🪶🪽
