Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and meaningful lyrics. She gained fame with her debut album Tracy Chapman (1988), featuring the hit “Fast Car,” which won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

The album sold over 20 million copies worldwide and made her an international star. Chapman has released several successful albums, including Crossroads (1989) and New Beginning (1995), which featured the Grammy-winning song “Give Me One Reason.”

Over her career, she has won four Grammy Awards and continues to be recognized for her impact on folk and rock music.

About the Song

Fast Car is about wanting a better life and hoping for change. The song tells a story of struggle and dreams, set to a soft melody and strong lyrics.

Lyrics of Fast Car

Verse 1

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 somethin’
Me, myself, I got nothing to prove

Verse 2

You got a fast car
I got a plan to get us outta 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 across the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
Finally see what it means to be living

Verse 3

See, my old man’s got a problem
He lives with a bottle, that’s the way it is
He says his body’s too old for workin’
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 gotta take care of him”
I quit school and that’s what I did

Pre-Chorus

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

Chorus

So I remember when we were drivin’, drivin’ 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 had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feelin’ I could be someone
Be someone, be someone

Verse 4

You got a fast car
We go cruisin’, 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
And we’ll move out of the shelter
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs

Chorus

So I remember when we were drivin’, drivin’ 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 had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feelin’ I could be someone
Be someone, be someone

Verse 5

You got a fast car
I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinkin’ 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, I ain’t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on drivin’

Chorus

So I remember when we were drivin’, drivin’ 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 had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feelin’ I could be someone
Be someone, be someone

Outro

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

Meaning Behind the Song Fast Car

The meaning behind “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman is about wishing for a better life while facing real struggles.

The song tells the story of someone trying to escape poverty and hardship, using a fast car as a symbol of freedom and change.

It follows a young woman who dreams of leaving her difficult life behind with her partner. But as time goes on, her life doesn’t get better, and the hope of a nicer future starts to fade.

Chapman uses simple, plain lyrics to show the truth of working-class life, where love and hope aren’t always enough to make real change. The song is about wishes, letdowns, and the courage it takes to keep going.

Live Performance of Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

Similar Songs Like Fast Car

These songs capture personal struggles, dreams, and social themes, much like Fast Car:

• Talkin’ Bout a Revolution: A song about hope and change, featuring simple acoustic guitar and a message about standing up for a better future.
• Baby Can I Hold You: With a calm and soothing melody, it is a gentle, heartfelt song about regret and unspoken words.
• Across the Lines: Addresses social struggles and division, using strong lyrics and a soft, acoustic arrangement similar to Fast Car.
• Mountains O’ Things: Talks about wanting a better life and material success, focusing on the themes of ambition and struggle.
• Subcity: It’s a song about poverty and hardship, carrying a strong message with simple yet moving instrumentals.

Awards for The Song

Similar Artists Like Tracy Chapman

These artists share Tracy Chapman’s folk-inspired storytelling, deep lyrics, and acoustic sound that make her music so impactful:

• Joan Armatrading
  Genres: Folk Rock, Pop, Blues
  Top Albums: Joan Armatrading (1976), Show Some Emotion (1977), Me Myself I (1980)
• Joni Mitchell
  Genres: Folk, Folk Rock, Jazz Fusion
  Top Albums: Blue (1971), Court and Spark (1974), Hejira (1976)
• Suzanne Vega
  Genres: Folk Rock, Alternative Rock, Acoustic
  Top Albums: Solitude Standing (1987), 99.9F° (1992), Beauty & Crime (2007)
• Bob Dylan
  Genres: Folk, Rock, Blues
  Top Albums: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963), Blood on the Tracks (1975), Time Out of Mind (1997)
• Ani DiFranco
  Genres: Folk, Indie Rock, Alternative
  Top Albums: Not a Pretty Girl (1995), Little Plastic Castle (1998), Educated Guess (2004)
• Natalie Merchant
  Genres: Folk Rock, Alternative Rock, Pop Rock
  Top Albums: Tigerlily (1995), Ophelia (1998), Leave Your Sleep (2010)
• Shawn Colvin
  Genres: Folk Rock, Pop, Country
  Top Albums: Steady On (1989), A Few Small Repairs (1996), These Four Walls (2006)
• Indigo Girls
  Genres: Folk Rock, Alternative Rock
  Top Albums: Indigo Girls (1989), Rites of Passage (1992), Swamp Ophelia (1994)