Fast Car
Tracey Chapman Lyrics


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You've got a fast car
I wanna ticket to anywhere
Maybe we can 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've got nothing to prove

You've got a fast car
I've got a plan to get us out of here
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
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
When 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've 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

Say, remember when we were driving, driving in your car?
Speed so fast it 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've got a fast car
We go cruising entertain ourselves
You still ain't got a job
Now I work in the 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

Say, remember when we were driving, driving in your car?
Speeds so fast it 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've got a fast car
I've 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'd find it
I got no plans and I ain't going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving

Say, remember when we were driving, driving in your car?
Speeds so fast it 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've 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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" tell the story of a woman who dreams of a better life as she reflects on her troubled past. The woman has a partner with a fast car, and she mentions that she wants to buy a ticket and travel to different places. The lyrics imply that the woman is hoping their relationship can lead to a better life for both of them, and that they can achieve success together.


The woman admits that she has nothing to lose and wants to take the risk that the car and her boyfriend represent. She does not have many resources, but she resolves to make something of herself even though she has nothing to prove. She persuades her boyfriend to leave their current situations and start over somewhere else, where they can earn a better living.


The song shifts gears when the woman exposes her father's alcoholism, and her efforts to take care of him. She laments the sacrifice of her education to assume the role of caretaker for her father. The woman also realizes that her boyfriend has lost his focus on making a better life together, drinks too much, and is unpredictable. She decides to move on alone and leave behind their previous hardships. The song ends with the woman urging her partner to consider leaving town entirely so that they can have a better future, even though that decision may be hard.


Line by Line Meaning

You've got a fast car
The person addressed has a fast mode of transportation


I wanna ticket to anywhere
I desire a chance to escape my current situation


Maybe we can make a deal
Perhaps we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement


Maybe together we can get somewhere
Collaboration could help us achieve our goals


Any place is better
Leaving the current location would improve our situation


Starting from zero, got nothing to lose
We have no better prospects at this moment, so starting anew wouldn't be a loss


Maybe we'll make something
Possibly with a fresh start we could create a better life


Me, myself, I've got nothing to prove
I am not trying to impress anyone, my focus is on escaping my current circumstances


I've got a plan to get us out of here
I have a strategy for escaping our current situation


Been working at the convenience store
I am currently employed at a convenience store


Managed to save just a little bit of money
I have been able to save a small amount of money from my job


Won't have to drive too far
Our destination is not too far away


Just cross the border and into the city
We need to leave our current location and reach a nearby city


You and I can both get jobs
Both of us can find employment in the new location


And finally see what it means to be living
By moving and improving our situation, we will truly experience life


See my old man's got a problem
My father has an addiction issue


Live with the bottle, that's the way it is
He is an alcoholic


He says his body's too old for working
My father believes he is physically unable to work


His body's too young, to look like his
His appearance does not match his age


When mama went off and left him
My mother left the family


She wanted more from life than he could give
My mother was not satisfied with the life my father provided


I said somebody's got to take care of him
I voluntarily took on responsibility for my father's care


So I quit school and that's what I did
I left my education to care for my father


Is it fast enough so we can fly away?
Is the mode of transportation adequate for us to escape our current situation?


We gotta make a decision
We need to choose whether or not to leave


Leave tonight or live and die this way
We need to leave immediately or accept our current situation as our fate


Speed so fast it felt like I was drunk
The sensation of the fast car almost felt intoxicating


And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
The physical touch of the other person felt comforting


And I had a feeling that I belonged
There was a sense of inclusion and acceptance


I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
There was a hopeful prospect of being able to achieve more and reinvent oneself


We go cruising entertain ourselves
We seek leisure activities to entertain ourselves


You still ain't got a job
The other person is still unemployed


Now I work in the market as a checkout girl
I have found work as a cashier at a market


I know things will get better
I believe that our situation will improve


You'll find work and I'll get promoted
It is possible that the other person will find employment, while I may receive a promotion at work


We'll move out of the shelter
We will no longer be homeless and live in a shelter


Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs
We are aiming to live more comfortably in a larger home in the suburbs


I'd always hoped for better
I have always wished to improve my situation


Thought maybe together you and me'd find it
I hoped that by working together we could achieve our goals


I got no plans and I ain't going nowhere
Currently, I have no specific plans or goals or anywhere else to go


So take your fast car and keep on driving
The other person may continue to search for a way to improve their life, but with me or without me


Is it fast enough so you can fly away?
Is the mode of transportation sufficient for the other person to escape their current situation?


You gotta make a decision
The other person needs to decide to stay or leave


Leave tonight or live and die this way
They can either leave immediately or accept their current circumstances as their fate




Contributed by Madelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@amitgahatraj5661

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



@JapaneseSoomi

I think a lot of people are stupid and weird in the head. They accept awful repetitive songs. They dont accept songs like:


Jonas Blue - Fast Car
= THIS SONG
= Moves like a Jagger
= Payphone [ Maroon 6 ]
= BYE BYE BYE
= Tell Me Why [BACKSTREE BOYZ]
= I feel it coming


and other songz xD ask if you want more legendary songs



@colincampbell437

I never knew how this song and tracy chapman became famous. Although i always possessed the album.

It was nelson Mandela's 70th birthday concert in london. Tracy was billed right at the bottom of the list of artists. Gets on plays set, gets off, not many in audience.

Much further up and later on in the day, stevie wonder to perform. But stevie can't go on as he has technical problems with synths.

Tracy is pushed on to stage to cover while the technician works on it.

Now she plays fast car to a full stadium.

Next , morning 100,000 copies of the record are sold ....

And a star is truly born.

Fyi



All comments from YouTube:

@LegionmusicNL

New video up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deRv5EYXVqY&ab_channel=ROCKMUSICHOLLAND

@cardyak675

No, I came because of a music teacher?
Edit: spelling

@novadawn3918

Favorite song of all times

@patriciaaureliano

@@cardyak675 jj j n 8

@rehanperera9301

Mhm

@christianharmon9013

This makes me think of race cars 🏎 which are super fast

30 More Replies...

@nickname7680

Send this to space to represent humanity if there's other life.

@faxbigfacts

Big Facts

@GraceLove33

You get it ..

@gd5066

Nice thoughts.

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