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In Nineteen Eighty-eight Tracy Chapman released her self titled debut album that retraced echoes of racial difference throughout time. When released, Tracy's first hit album sold vastly worldwide affecting millions of peoples firm beliefs on racism is just one year. In Nineteen Eighty-nine she sold ten million albums and won herself three Grammys. Tracy had herself off to a great start, but the best had just begun for this black vocalist. On her self titled album, she had several hits of which one led to some diligent listeners forever touched. Tracy was one of the first African American vocalists to show expression and feelings on a controversial level about race and power in a turmoil ed country suffering from the aftershocks of segregation among blacks and whites.
One song, Fast Car, on her debut album led to the embarkment of who Tracy Chapman the singer was, is and quite possibly who she may become. This song, Fast Car is one of her most sensitive songs to gloat my ears. Hearing her sing and express herself on such an inner personal level emphasizes Tracy's strength and determination. The beat sets a rhythm that you will hum for days. In the song Fast Car, Tracy literally relates her life to this fast car, hence the title. Many people dont associate the title of the song and the interpretation while listening to the song.
In my interpretation the song is the story of Tracy's life and the travesties that she overcomes. The song is a progression over several years in her life. Fast Car takes us through three stages in her life. There is no repetitive chorus in this song either which I find rather interesting because her chorus is the progression of her life. Tracy begins her award winning inspirational song and the first stage in her life by singing: You got a Fast Car; I want a ticket to anywhere; Maybe we can make a deal: Maybe together we can get somewhere. This beginning chorus states literally that Tracy wants to leave her life and she will leave it with anyone who is willing to go with her.
It could very well be one of the saddest lines in the song, showing a deep and unsung depression. This line personally I feel relates to many peoples lives, how they want to escape the one thing they know in hopes of better. Imagine how many people can relate with Tracy in those few phrases. The next verse in the song elaborates Tracy's optimism towards her past and her future. She sings with eloquence: Anyplace is better; Started from zero got nothing to lose; Maybe well make something; But me myself I have nothing to prove. Tracy sings about hating her life, and how she would like to state it over.
I believe shes stating how she has never known any better but she holds hope for the future. She doesnt think it will take much to change her repetitive life. Tracy's second chorus begins with: You got a fast car and I got a plant o get us out of here; Been working down at the convenience store; Managed to save just a little bit of money; We dont have to drive that 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. In this verse I believe she says that she is making the best of her situation. Maybe that means living life as it has always been.
Although Tracy lives with he agonizing patience of her better tomorrow. Everyone has their dreams and hopes. Tracy may not be as materialistic as others but she is more in touch with her personal side which gives the song great meaning. Tracy expands on her drama in the third chorus but only by elaborating more on her previous verse. In this verse, Tracy brings up a fairly painful event in her life.
This verse also decodes a lot of the reason behind her actions and emotions Tracy has dealt with. She begins: You see my old mans got a problem. He lives with the bottle and thats the way it is. He say his body too old for working, I say its too young to look like this. 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 thats what I did. She has indicated that her Dad has a raging alcohol problem, but he lives in denial.
Tracy got wrapped up and forced to take care of her Dad and his problems. She gave up so much of her future for the love of her dad. Also implied in this verse is that her parents are divorced. She never mentions her family life again, and leaves the listeners wondering whatever happened to her dad and her mom and their influence. She voids out more of the obvious later on in the song. The neglectfulness would be quite relevant to the depths of Tracy's thoughts.
Having to raise herself then her dad voiced many sensitive and sorrowful lyrics. Tracy now begins the second stage in her song progression. Tracy and her significant other need to escape this new life they live together. She sings: You got a fast car; But is it fast enough so we can fly away? We gotta make a decision; We leave tonight or live and die this way? Take notice how she has now changed her chorus into plural form from You gotta fast car to We gotta fast car.
Tracy in the next verse gets what she had hoped for. She was now leaving her sad life, and driving her Fast Car out with all her hopes and dreams within sight. She uses such descriptions in this verse to paint a very vivid image relating her dreams to the current reality. Tracy expresses feelings of security, safety and accomplishment in her life.
She sings: I remember we were driving, driving in your car The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk; City lights stay out before us; And your arm felt nice wrapped around my shoulder; And I had a feeling that I belonged; And I had a feeling I would be someone, be someone, be someone. In the fourth verse it is also the third and final stage. Tracy sings: You got a fast car, and we for cruising ro entertain ourselves; You still aint got a job; And I work in the market place as a checkout girl; I know things will get better; Youll find work and Ill get promoted; We? ll move out of the shelter, Buy a big house and live in the Suburbs. She sings about how she has begun her new life and how she is trying to make it once again, but always holding her won for better.
In this verse Tracy's significant other begins to neglect her, but she feels confident he will turn around soon. She believes the two of them will move themselves up the ladders to a better life still. In the next verse Tracy's conveys how her life hasnt improved much because her boyfriend ignores her and he mistreats the apparent children I was led to believe they have. He has turned into what she was escaping from her younger life, (her Dad).
He also now became dependent on alcohol, and she turned on him to make out the decision which is more important himself or his family? Tracy sings: You got a fast car; And 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 your own kids; I always hoped for better; Thought maybe you and me would find it; I got no plans I aint going nowhere; So take your fast car and keep on driving. Now escaping her better life, the fifth and final chorus verse I finds truly unique when she turns her fast car into this fast car that he is driving out of her life by neglect ion and alcohol. She sings: You got a fast car; But is it fast enough so we can fly way?
You gotta make a decision; Leave tonight or live and die this way. She sings how he better leave quickly or he will be letting himself die with himself as his only friend and companion. This song is a very strong display of the, depression, hope, faith, and overcoming in Tracy's life. She wanted to run away from the burdens in her life.
When she finally gets enough courage to leave her burdens such as, her fathers life, low money and little support, she takes the first escape that comes along and ends up on another emotional roller coaster. She soon finds the strings to her memories about her dad inside her boyfriend. Tracy surely doesnt want her children to suffer through anything that Tracy did, so that explains why Tracy had such a strong will in this song. This song Fast Car is commonly known but many people fail to realize why Tracy sang this song. She makes listeners feel the true value of what they have, and how to make the best of what you have. That would lead to why Tracy's is definitely one of a kind, how she places such a reality on a very inner personal experience.
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