Fast Car
♪♫ Tracy Chapman Lyrics
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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
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
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
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 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
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 to entertain ourselves
You still ain't got a job
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
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
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 would find it
I got no plans I ain't going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving
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
I had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way
The song "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman is about a woman's desire to escape a stagnant and difficult life. She sees a fast car as a way out and hopes that the person who owns it will take her away to a better place. The singer doesn't have any specific destination in mind, but she knows that anything would be better than the situation she's currently in. She's willing to put in the work to get to a better place and encourages the car owner to join her to get somewhere together.
The lyrics also touch on the singer's troubled family life. Her father is an alcoholic, and her mother left him to search for a better life. The singer feels responsible for taking care of her father and decides to quit school to do so. However, she sees the car and the possibility of leaving as an opportunity to finally break free of her circumstances.
The song's lyrics are poignant and universal. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt stuck and longed for a change. The song is also a reflection of the working-class struggles and the desire for upward mobility in America.
Line by Line Meaning
You got a fast car
Your car is a symbol of hope and opportunity for a better life.
I want a ticket to anywhere
I want to escape this place and start a new life with you.
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe we can work together to achieve our dreams.
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Maybe we can achieve our goals if we stick together and support each other.
Anyplace is better
Anywhere is better than staying in this dead-end town.
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
We have nothing to lose by leaving and starting anew.
Maybe we'll make something
Maybe we can achieve success and happiness in our new life.
Me, myself I got nothing to prove
I do not need to prove anything to anyone, I just want a better life.
I got a plan to get us out of here
I have a plan to escape this town and start a new life with you.
I been working at the convenience store
I have been working hard to save money for our new life.
Won't have to drive too far
We do not have to travel a great distance to escape this town.
Just 'cross the border and into the city
We can find new opportunities and a better life in the city across the border.
You and I can both get jobs
We can both find work and support each other as we start anew.
And finally see what it means to be living
We can finally experience what it means to truly live and enjoy life.
You see my old man's got a problem
My father has a drinking problem and cannot take care of himself.
He live with the bottle that's the way it is
His addiction controls his life and there seems to be no hope for change.
He says his body's too old for working
My father claims he is too old to work and support himself.
His body's too young to look like his
His addiction has taken a toll on his health, making him look older than he is.
My mama went off and left him
My mother left him because she wanted more from life than he could provide.
She wanted more from life than he could give
My mother wanted more than just living with an alcoholic who cannot take care of himself.
I said somebody's got to take care of him
I took it upon myself to take care of my father and help him with his addiction.
So I quit school and that's what I did
I had to sacrifice my education to take care of my father.
Is it fast enough so we can fly away
I wonder if your car is fast enough to help us escape this life and start anew.
We gotta make a decision
We need to decide whether to stay in this life or leave it behind for a new one.
Leave tonight or live and die this way
Our lives are stagnant and hopeless, we need to take a chance and leave tonight or accept this as our fate.
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
As we drove, the excitement and anticipation of a new life made me feel intoxicated.
City lights lay out before us
The city represented the promise of a new life, with endless possibilities stretching out before us.
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
In that moment, I felt comforted and supported by you.
I had a feeling that I belonged
For the first time, I felt that I had found my place in the world with you.
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
I had hope for a new life, a chance to be someone better in a place where nobody knows us.
We go cruising to entertain ourselves
We use the car to escape and explore the world until we can start our new life.
You still ain't got a job
You still have not found work to support us and our new life.
I work in a market as a checkout girl
I have found work to support us and our new life.
You'll find work and I'll get promoted
We believe in each other and are confident that we will find success and happiness in our new life.
We'll move out of the shelter
We will no longer be in a desperate and hopeless situation, living in a place of refuge.
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs
We can achieve the American Dream of owning a home and living in a prosperous, middle-class neighborhood.
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You are still holding on to the past, wondering if the car is still fast enough to escape our old life.
You gotta make a decision
You need to decide if you are ready to let go of the past and embrace the promise of a new life.
Leave tonight or live and die this way
We cannot continue living like this, we need to take action and either leave our old life or accept it as our fate.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Tracy L Chapman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind