Fast car

Tracy Chapman created this wonderful song about life and love, celebrating a moment of freedom and empowerment in the midst of quite some hardship.

40 years later she performs it with her big fan – country singer Luke Combs.

Watch LUKE COMBS & TRACY CHAPMAN Perform "FAST CAR" at the 2024 GRAMMYs
Tracy and Luke – Remembering connection and celebrating life

Lyrics

You got a 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 lives 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 I remember 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-I, had a feeling that I belonged
I-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
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 bigger house and live in the suburbs

So I 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-I, had a feeling that I belonged
I-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 would find it
I got no plans, I ain′t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving

So I 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-I, had a feeling that I belonged
I-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


A snippet from the poetry of the lyrics:

“I’ve had a feeling I could be someone.”
Our trip with the car shows me freedom and
togetherness. My body is vibrating with joy.