Jean moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was nine, then to Northern New Jersey, where he began playing the guitar and studying jazz in his high school. In 1987, Jean, his friend (so close they told people they were cousins growing up) Prakazrel Michel (Pras) and his classmate, Lauryn Hill, formed a group called the Tranzlator Crew before becoming The Fugees. Wyclef worked as a cabdriver.
Recently he has been finding success as a collaborator - with his turn on Shakira's 2006 track 'Hips Don't Lie' hitting number one in many countries around the world.
In August of 2010, Jean announced his intent to seek the presidency of Haiti. This move came after his increasingly-high profile humanitarian work in the wake of the earthquake that devastated that nation.
Fast Car
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Wyclef]
I heard a man say Jesus Walks
Me myself I heard Jesus talk
Cause when I heard this beat I felt Jesus force
I heard it through the wire that he made it out the coma
from a fast car, it was a fast carYeah!
Every day is like the wild wild West
Some of us are Bad Boys, some of us are Outlawz
Unsolved mystery, the killer get away
L.A., Vegas at the end of the day
in a fast car, drivin a fast car
Yeah~!
[Wyclef, Paul Simon]
You don't gotta be no billionaire
To get a ticket up to the moon
We all know somebody up there
You need a helpin hand, look up right here
To help you see clearly now
To help you see clearly now
I hope you see clearly now
[Wyclef]
What would you do after your bachelor party
In the bar celebratin with all your homies
Go outside and you ready to ride
Then over 51 shots but you ain't ready to die
in your fast car, yeah, in your fast car
Paul Simon, talk to 'em
[Paul Simon]When that fast car picks you up
You will have no choice
You may hear the tires screamin
But you will have no voice
When that fast car picks you up
You will weep and smile and see
Heaven in the headlights
Mile after mile after mile after mile
[Wyclef, Paul Simon]
You don't gotta be no billionaire
To get a ticket up to the moon
We all know somebody up there
You need a helpin hand, look up right here
To help you see clearly now
To help you see clearly now
I hope you see clearly now
[Wyclef]
E'rybody need some TFC
So she headed to Honduras for some TLC, yeah
Havin fun in Central America
But she was a passenger, never a driver
in that fast car yeah, ridin that fast car
Yeah!
Sweet sixteen I see her leavin the scene
Crossin the street she won't see 17
Blink of an eye, DWI
Hit and run that's felonies
in a fast car, ridin the fast car
Yeah~!
[Paul Simon]
When that fast car picks you up
You will have no choice
You may hear the tires screamin
But you will have no voice
When that fast car picks you up
You will weep and smile and see
Heaven in the headlights
Mile after mile after mile after mile
[Wyclef, Paul Simon]
You don't gotta be no billionaire
To get a ticket up to the moon
We all know somebody up there
You need a helpin hand, look up right here
To help you see clearly now
To help you see clearly now
I hope you see clearly now
[Wyclef, Paul Simon]
You don't gotta be no billionaire
To get a ticket up to the moon
We all know somebody up there
You need a helpin hand, look up right here
To help you see clearly now
To help you see clearly now
I hope you see clearly now
The song "Fast Car" by Wyclef Jean featuring Lupe Fiasco is about the metaphorical fast car that we all have the option to ride in or not. The lyrics touch on different aspects of life, from celebrating with friends to darker moments like accidents or hit-and-runs. The first verse describes hearing about Jesus walks and talks, and feeling his force in the beat, which can be interpreted as a reflection of faith and spirituality. The mention of a coma and fast car refers to the reality of accidents and how quickly they can happen, as well as how we can quickly lose control of our lives.
The following verses talk about the wild west-like nature of life, where some people are "bad boys" or "outlawed" and how sometimes the killer gets away. Paul Simon sings about the inevitability of being picked up by the fast car and how we will have no voice or choice but to weep and smile. This can be interpreted as a commentary on death and the afterlife. The song ends with a note of hope and comfort, reminding us that we all need some tlc and that we can find help to see clearly.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Acknowledgment or agreement
It's those Jersey boys
Referring to himself and his collaborators as coming from New Jersey
La la la
Onomatopoeic expression of sound
I heard a man say Jesus walks
He heard someone say that they have faith and belief in God
Me
Referring to himself
Myself
Referring to himself again
I heard Jesus talks 'cause when I heard his beat I felt Jesus force
He feels the power of God through music
I heard it through the wire that he made it out the coma from a fast car
He heard a story about someone who survived a car accident while in a coma
It was a fast car
Referring to the car from the previous line
Every day is like the wild
Life is unpredictable
Wild west
A reference to a period of lawlessness and chaos in American history
Some of us are bad boys
Some people are troublemakers
Some of us are outlawed
Some people live outside of the law
And in some mystery the killer get away
Sometimes murderers are not caught
L.A.
Referring to Los Angeles
Vegas at the end of the day in the fast car
Referring to Las Vegas and the desire to escape reality and live life in the fast lane
Jump in the fast car
Urging someone to live life with abandon
You don't have to
You are not required to do something
You don't gotta be no billionaire to get a ticket up to the moon
Money is not a requirement to achieve your dreams
We all know somebody up there
There are people who can help you achieve your goals
You need a helping hand
Acknowledging the need for assistance in life
Look
Listen up or pay attention
Come right here to help you see clearly now
Inviting someone to look for guidance and clarity in life
I hope you see clearly now
Expressing the desire for someone to find insight and understanding
What would you do after your bachelor party
Asking a hypothetical question about a celebratory event
In the bar celebrating with all your homies
Describing a scene of revelry with friends
Go outside
Leaving a building or space
And you're ready to ride
Prepared to move forward
And over fifty one shots but you ain't ready to die in your fast car
Drinking and driving can lead to death
Paul Simon talk to me
Asking for communication from his collaborator on this song
When that fast car picks you up you will have no choice
Life can take you in unexpected and uncontrollable directions
You may hear the tires screaming but you will have no voice
Life can be intense and difficult to manage
But as the fast car picks you up you will weep and smile
Life can bring both joy and sorrow
And see heaven in the headlights mile after
The beauty of the world can be found even in difficult moments
Mile after mile
Continuing even when it is hard
Everybody need some tlc so she headed to Honduras for some tlc
Acknowledging the importance of self-care
Having fun in Central America
Enjoying oneself in a different part of the world
Well she was a passenger
Describing someone who is not in control
Never a traveler in that fast car
Revealing someone who hasn't experienced living life on the edge
Riding that fast car
An invitation to live life boldly
Sweet sixteen
A reference to a coming of age event
I see her leaving the scene
Someone's life is cut short
Crossing the street she won't see seventeen
A tragedy where someone dies young
Blink of an eye
Something that happens quickly
D-W-I
Driving while intoxicated
Hit and run and selling flees
A crime where someone flees the scene
Yeah
Acknowledgment or agreement
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WYCLEF JEAN, FAREL JEAN, JERRY DUPLESSIS, PAUL SIMON, KEITH DUPLESSIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ben_Colney
Yeah, this those Jersey boys
I heard a man say Jesus Walks
Me myself I heard Jesus talk
Cause when I heard this beat I felt Jesus force
I heard it through the wire that he made it out the coma
From a fast car, it was a fast car
Yeah!
Every day is like the wild wild West
Some of us are Bad Boys, some of us are Outlawz
Unsolved mystery, the killer get away
L.A., Vegas at the end of the day
In a fast car, drivin a fast car
Yeah!
You don't gotta be no billionaire
To get a ticket up to the moon
We all know somebody up there
You need a helpin hand, look up right here
To help you see clearly now
To help you see clearly now
I hope you see clearly now
"AW YEAH!"
What would you do after your bachelor party
In the bar celebratin with all your homies
Go outside and you ready to ride
Then over 51 shots but you ain't ready to die
In your fast car, yeah, in your fast car
Paul Simon, talk to 'em
When that fast car picks you up
You will have no choice
You may hear the tires screamin
But you will have no voice
When that fast car picks you up
You will weep and smile and see
Heaven in the headlights
Mile after mile after mile after mile
E'rybody need some TLC
So she headed to Honduras for some TLC, yeah
Havin fun in Central America
But she was a passenger, never a driver
In that fast car yeah, ridin that fast car
Yeah!
Sweet sixteen I see her leavin the scene
Crossin the street she won't see 17
Blink of an eye, DWI
Hit and run that's felonies
In a fast car, ridin the fast car
Yeah!
@abdulwahabkadi6399
This song is a masterpiece. Wonder why it didn't take its shine through the media.
@Crazylissee92
I remember a student from English class talked about this song because our assignment was to choose songs and interpret the meaning of the song. I really enjoy this song very interesting. From what I get from this song is that the car is a representation of life and how tomorrow is not promised. Today we are alive tomorrow we don't know. Great song.
@adamlaceky8127
I love this song. My interpretation is that the desire to lead a fast life leads to an early death. It's a condemnation of thrill-seeking. The collateral and personal damage that comes from that lifestyle is not healthy. That fast car could take you out when you least expect it. You might be a pedestrian, and that fast car smashes into you. Or you're driving the fast car, and you plow into an embankment.
@dexxton
they should do many more songs together...their voices just mesh so well... wow
@_anthonyr
I’ve been looking for this song for yearssssss. I heard this song in a YouTube video back in 2009 (I was 8). I’d always see Fast car by Tracy Chapman when I searched fast car on YouTube (I like that song too) but I literally JUST FOUND THIS MASTERPIECE , FINALLY
@joehoegh4
same here man
@equinoxwonder4828
Wow man i looking for this song since im junior high school. And now im already work for government, im still find this song. But now i find this song. Ohhhhhhh. Its already 10 years
@sbarwen
the remix with lupe fiasco is amazing too
@sherwinreynolds1810
I can relate
@TheAfricanwitch
I always find myself searching for this song when it randomly pops in my head. And it's always so hard to find I need to play it until I find some other useful words. 😅