A 1988 folk-rock single by Tracy Chapman about a working-class couple trying to escape poverty, built on an arpeggiated acoustic guitar figure.
Composition
Fast Car was written by Tracy Chapman and recorded for her self-titled debut album in 1988. The song’s opening acoustic guitar figure leads into a sung narrative about leaving a difficult home for an uncertain future.
Reception
Released as the album’s lead single, Fast Car reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped propel Chapman’s debut album to multi-platinum sales. The song received three Grammy Award nominations.
Revival
A 2023 country cover by Luke Combs returned the song to mainstream U.S. charts and earned Chapman the Country Music Association award for Song of the Year, making her the first Black songwriter to win in that category. Chapman performed alongside Combs at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
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Fast Car starts with F and ends with R. Browse other songs along the same letter.
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