Story of The 80s Game Changer Fast Car by Tracy Chapman | #1 In Our Hearts | Professor of Rock

Tracy Chapman release a life changing song in 1988 that went to #6 on the billboard hot 100 As a child, she observed how people in the community where she lived struggled to make ends meet- praying that things would get better. Her experience watching those hardships inspired the writing of “Fast Car." a song about two people trying to leave a homeless shelter, and a life of poverty, in hopes of starting a new life- as Tracy shares in the song’s 4th verse:
“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’ find work and I’ll get promoted
We’ll move out of the shelter Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs.
“Fast Car” is not a car song, per se. The car is really just the means the couple is using to transport themselves to a place where they can have a happier existence. This is the story of the song.

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#80s #Folk #TracyChapman

Hey Music Junkies, Professor of Rock , always here to celebrate the greatest artists and songs of all time; If you love music, you’ll want to subscribe below and part of our community where you’ll get daily content celebrating the rock era. Also FYI this week on Patreon we’ve done a video on the origin of the cassette table that we feature in a lot of our interviews. you can access that in the link below.

Before her performance at the Nelson Mandela tribute concert, Tracy’s debut album had sold a respectable 250,000 units, but in the two weeks that followed the tribute, over 2 million copies were sold. The song
Tracy Chapman was born to a poor working family in Cleveland, Ohio. Her parents divorced when she was only 4 years old, and she was raised by her single mother.

As a child, she observed how people in the community where she lived struggled to make ends meet- praying that things would get better. Her experience watching those hardships inspired the writing of “Fast Car." a song about two people trying to leave a homeless shelter, and a life of poverty, in hopes of starting a new life- as Tracy shares in the song’s 4th verse:

“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’ find work and I’ll get promoted
We’ll move out of the shelter Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs.

“Fast Car” is not a car song, per se (say). The car is really just the means the couple is using to transport themselves to a place where they can have a happier existence. There’s an urgency to get somewhere- anywhere. I am always moved by the piercing desperation of the last line in the refrain:

"We gotta make a decision, leave tonight or live and die this way.” Than line was a game changer for me. A true paradigm shift. Even at 12 years of age. In my estimation This song is my generation’s Blowing in the Wind. I remember the first time I heard it, I felt like I got punched hard in the stomach. It literally knocked the wind out of me. It’s heart wrenching realism was a wake up call to me of what was going on all over america. Again it was a paradigm shift for my young soul. Suddenly my complaining about not having more channels on my cable TV or my walkman eating up my newest album seemed extremely selfish and petty.

“Fast Car” connected with people in a deeply personal way. We’ve all had times in our lives when we just want to 'get away'. Jump in a car and drive out of town as fast as you can to forget your troubles, gain a new perspective, or just for the healing rush of an impulsive road trip.

The achingly beautiful acoustic guitar figure that plays throughout the song, is the guiding light that presses the song forward and it’s really quite brilliant, because even though it’s repeated over and over, it’ never becomes stale or tiresome. It’s quite moving and heartfelt. and the way Tracy Chapman delivers the lyrics, it just alters perceptions. Her approach is gritty, soul stirring, somber and yet there is hope in here words.
Her lyrics: Anyplace is better Starting from Zero got nothing to lose Maybe well make something, me myself I’v got nothing to prove.
Some fans believed that Tracy was literally telling their story in her song. A fan once jokingly accused Tracy backstage of “reading their diary” because “Fast Car” so accurately mirrored their private ruminations. “Fast Car” really demonstrates the emotional power of a song.

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