Radio XX, side A, track 3: “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman, #86 on The Top 88 of ’88

Oh, Tracy Chapman, I don’t know if I could say much more about this song than I did the first time I posted about it just a little over a year ago.  It still breaks my heart and I still love it.  Nothing’s changed.  Well, one thing’s changed.  After listening to this song and your other song that graced the radio, I realized I love you, as I’ve mentioned.  And I’ll be honest with you, Tracy Chapman, back when this was on regularly, and even later than that, I’ll admit that I wasn’t as enamored about this song.  I thought it was over-played and yes, I got a little tired of it.  But that was then, Tracy Chapman, before I learned to appreciate just how special and talented you are.  Now I think this song isn’t played enough.  You have a new fan, Tracy Chapman, I’m just sorry it took me over two decades to realize it.

“Fast Car”

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

Startin’ from zero got nothing to lose

Maybe we’ll make something

Me, myself, I got nothin’ to prove

You got a fast car

I got a plan ta get us outta here, been workin’ down the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit’a 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 workin’
I say 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’a 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 when we were drivin’
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 cruisin’, entertain ourselves
Still ain’t got a job
Now I work in the market as a checkout girl
I know things’ll get better
You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted and we’ll move outta the shelter
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs

So remember when we were drivin’
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
Ya stay out drinkin’ late at the bar, see more’a your friends than you do’a your kids
I’d always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it, I got no plans, I ain’t goin’ nowhere
Take your fast car and keep on driving

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