Fast Car – We gotta make a decision. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers

In a candid moment Tracy Chapman recalled her earliest performances of ‘Fast Car’.

She played it to an audience of one.

Her dog…a miniature dachshund took immediate notice.

She seemed to be more perked up than usual. I don’t know if she was responding to my energy or if she was just not as tired as she normally was, but it was kind of funny to have her there for the process of the beginning of writing that song.”

Tracy Chapman

Tracy received a standing ovation. The first of many.

The roots of Tracy Chapman’s success speak to a storybook origin. She made a demo tape while working on a degree in Anthropology and African Studies at Tufts University. A friend of hers named Brian Koppelman liked what he heard. He mentioned to Tracy that his father worked for SBK Publishing. He took a tape to Charles Koppelman who soon signed Chapman to a management deal, which evolved into a recording contract with Elektra Records.

The true beauty of what Elektra did for Tracy resides in the fact that they allowed her to be herself. Producer David Kershenbaum who had done work with Joe Jackson and Joan Baez focused on Tracy’s coffee house appeal. Treatments were kept to a minimum and her backing band consisted of three players; Larry Klein on bass, Denny Fongheiser on drums and Ed Black on guitar.

Bringing the focus back to ‘Fast Car’, Tracy Chapman used this song writing session as an exercise in understanding her personal experience to some extent, but not literally.

It very generally represents the world that I saw when I was growing up and Cleveland, Ohio, coming from a working-class background, being raised by a single mom and being in a community of people who were struggling. Everyone was working hard and hoping that things would get better.”

Tracy Chapman

As you can see, the story she tells becomes relatable because it reflected what she saw all around her. As is so often the case, the best songwriters have the ability to draw from a sense of empathy and translate the story of the audience through their words and music.

In this quote, Tracy Chapman articulates the fact that everything presented in ‘Fast Car’ exists as an amalgam of the people she saw while experiencing life as a youth in Cleveland.

It wasn’t directly autobiographical.  I never had a fast car. It’s a story about a couple and how they are trying to make a life together and they face various challenges.”

Tracy Chapman

The ‘Fast Car’ becomes a lyrical device symbolizing escape.

It’s not really about a car at all… basically it’s about a relationship that doesn’t work out because it’s starting from the wrong place.”

Tracy Chapman

The couple is seemingly in a downward spiral. Written from the woman’s perspective, the lyrics offer a portrait that allows people to sympathize. Her partner is unemployed, drinks too much, is lazy and has no apparent direction. Chapman balances this with a chorus that speaks to a time when the relationship was full of potential.

It is through the chorus that Chapman offers a glimmer of hope…

Someday she is going to be someone.

But the change must happen soon.

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 something
Me, myself, I got nothing to prove

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 ‘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
He live with the bottle, that’s the way it is
He says his body’s too old for working
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 of 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 I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast it 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 cruising, entertain ourselves
You still ain’t got a job
And I work in the market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted
We’ll move out of the shelter
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs

So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast it 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
You stay out drinking 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
Take your fast car and keep on driving

So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast it 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
Is it fast enough so you can fly away?
You gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way”

Tracy Chapman

When ‘Fast Car’ was released 35 years ago, in April of 1988, it definitely bucked a lot of trends. It was extremely rare for a song that depicted a sense of hopelessness to capture a broad audience. The fact that Chapman was relatively unknown only added to the barriers she faced. It was a combination of circumstances that catapulted Tracy Chapman to prominence.

Clearly, she had backing from her team at Elektra. The label wisely added Tracy Chapman to 10,000 Maniacs tour as an opening act, and her accessible style quickly endured her to a lucrative audience. By early June, ‘Fast Car’ hit the charts in North America and the U.K.

One other major boost occurred on June 11, 1988 when she was added to the star-studded lineup celebrating the 70th birthday of Nelson Mandela at Wembley Stadium. As the story goes, Chapman performed a well-received three song set during the afternoon. Due to the nature of the event Tracy opted not to perform ‘Fast Car’. This demonstrates the fact she is the model of integrity. Instead, she performed material from her debut album that reflected the theme of the day. This allowed her to share ‘Talkin ‘Bout a Revolution’ which would become the follow up to ‘Fast Car’.

Talking about a Revolution – A look back on a theme as we celebrate #John Lennon’s 79th birthday. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #TheBeatles #TracyChapman #StoneTemplePilots #TheStereophonics #LivingColour #ArtNapoleon #JacindaArdern

As fate would have it, karma offered a positive twist. Just before Stevie Wonder was about to take the Wembley stage he discovered that a floppy disk that was required for his keyboard had gone missing. He left the backstage area with his handler, in a panic.

While they went searching for the lost disk, the organizers sought out Tracy Chapman and asked her to take her guitar on stage and play just one song.

She obliged, and this was the scene. You can actually hear the stage crew doing a soundcheck for Stevie Wonder in the background.

Yet, Tracy Chapman tells the story.

They are going to find a job, get a promotion, move out of the shelter, buy a house and move to the suburbs.

Look at the sea of people. This still sends chills.

The acclaim didn’t stop there.

Tracy Chapman won three Grammys in 1989. They included Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best New Artist.

From a demo to this in less than two years.

Here is another beautiful live version that offers ‘Fast Car’ with her complimentary backup band.

Now let’s enter the highway that takes us to the cover versions. This will be an interesting ride, and it will take us to the present day.

Let’s ease our way into it with this abbreviated version by Justin Bieber.

While ‘the Biebs’ can be a little divisive this isn’t bad, and you can tell by the delivery that he connects with the song. It speaks to a maturity. For several years now I have grown to like Justin and what he is doing.

For a complete version that will make your spine tingle, check out Sam Smith. This outstanding cover is brought to you from BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge. This performance came at a time where Smith had become a global musical sensation and he is still riding that wave. This demonstrates why Sam Smith is one of the essential acts of our time.

About the same time, Jonas Blue released this evocative cover featuring Dakota on vocals. The piano/vocal combination offers yet another view of the song. It inspires contemplation.

Here is Jonas Blue recalling what the song meant to him as he was growing up.

 It was a good song in London [during] that time when I was growing up, so it was always on the radio, and it just kind of stuck with me. It was that song on the long journeys, and I loved it.”

Jonas Blue

Let’s head back to the BBC Live Lounge with Khalid in 2018. I love the way he narrates this piece. He is telling Tracy’s story from his own perspective. I featured Khalid as part of a post about Chester Bennington and ‘In the End’ back in July.

Ted Tocks Cover loves the work of Boyce Avenue. This acts’ covers have been shared on a handful of occasions. (See ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Dream On’, ‘Dust in the Wind’ and ‘Superman’.

Now let’s head to the streets of Dublin, Ireland in 2020 and watch a street musician named Jacob Koopman entertain those who wandered by. Suffice to say, he manages to grab their attention. I love what he does here as he seamlessly connects ‘Blackbird’ by The Beatles to ‘Fast Car’. The gathered crowd seem riveted to his rendition. Love it! It needed to be shared.

This 2021 home studio performance by Luke Coombs has evolved to stratospheric heights.

For Combs, ‘Fast Car’ was his first favourite song. As he was a young boy learning to play guitar his ear was captured by Chapman’s hypnotic acoustic riff and passionate delivery. In his cover version Combs’ stays true to Tracy.

It wasn’t until April of 2023 that Luke opted to release ‘Fast Car’ on his album ‘Gettin’ Old’. ‘Gettin’ Old’ is the companion album to his 2022 recording, ‘Growin’ Up’. It should be noted here, that Luke is 33 years old. He seems to have miles to go. An interesting thing about Luke’s ascension to the peak of the Country charts is the fact that he quit Appalachian State University just as he was about to complete his degree. The goal was to pursue his love of music.

It paid off.

By the time summer rolled around ‘Fast Car’ and ‘Last Night’ by Morgan Wallen were #1/#2 on the Hot 100.  This was the first time for a pair of Country acts since 1981 when Eddie Rabbit and Dolly Parton did it with ‘I Love a Rainy Night’ and ‘9 to 5’. They were soon joined by the insipid and mind-bogglingly simple ‘Try that In a Small Town’ by the poser Jason Aldean at 1-2-3. This is the first time three Country songs have enjoyed this level of crossover status.

Success is complicated and the tastes of a mass audience is always intriguing.

Back to Tracy Chapman; she is elated that her message still resonates with audiences 35 years later.

I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there. I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.'”

Tracy Chapman

Be happy for Luke.

Be happier for Tracy.

I urge you to focus mainly on the positive but just know that according to a Washington Post article by Emily Yahr, Tracy Chapman’s space at the top is a rare achievement that borders on impossible.

Data collected by journalist Jan Diehm and musicologist Jada Watson have determined that less than 0.5 percent of songs played on country radio in 2022 were credited to women of colour or LGBTQ+ artists.

The point is, while Tracy Chapman’s renewed success is exciting and richly deserved it would not be happening unless it was served up by a successful white artist.

Sadder still is the fact that 30% (likely more) of Luke Comb’s audience likely see Tracy Chapman as some sort of threat because she is a woman of colour and openly gay. It says here, that the true meaning and intention of Tracy’s composition is likely lost on many. When you consider the political bent of this audience you can’t help but question this phenomenon.

I point to the success of Jason Aldean. This is the kind of tripe that passes as a hit in the heart of modern country. The sheep follow because when it comes down to it, the fascists who are trying to take over America have little in the way of talent to turn to. When Kid Rock and Ted Nugent carry the flag, you are definitely scraping the bottom of the moonshine barrel.

I stand with Tracy Chapman and any other artist who represent an audience through a message that focuses on empathy and compassion. In short a better society.

That’s where hope for a positive future truly resides.

You gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way”

Tracy Chapman

Together we can get somewhere.

Six months after Ted Tocks Covers featured ‘Fast Car’ the story took us all to the 2024 Grammys. This performance summarizes everything. Enjoy Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman doing a stunning duet 35 years after Chapman won three Grammys during the 1989 Grammys.

In 35 years so much has changed, and so little has changed.

I know things will get better.