You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so we can fly away?

In Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”, the narrator, her family and boyfriend are stuck in a cycle of poverty. But she has come up with a great plan to escape. See, her boyfriend has a car. What if they drive out of town and they get a job? They both know that if they don’t leave now, they’ll live and die here in poverty like their parents. Deal?

They make the right decision—they leave and start their new life—they are not going to be like their parents. For a while it works out. But then they begin to repeat the pattern of their parents: she gets pregnant too young; he gets drunk all the time. Just like her father, his body is beat down by manual labor that pays little, so he drinks to cope.

Eventually he is out all night, she is taking care of the kids and resents him. They break up—they can’t afford a nanny. Also, they left their town to try to be different from their family so their parents can’t babysit.

And that car…the fast car. He still has it all these years later. It reminds them both of a better time. They both remember how hopeful they were. He still loves it because it takes him back to the good times. She hates. It is a constant reminder of that this was their best shot at making it. And now it is the only thing they own and the only thing he pays attention to.

Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” is a throwback to sixties folk and blues music.  It is the most unlikely hit of the eighties. Chapman speaks of the plight of the poor—specifically poor black individuals—whose sole healthy escape might be via their car.

Tracy Chapman’s voice in “Fast Car” sounds great. It is understated, but emotional, strong and beautiful. She creates a unique guitar riff that is instantly recognizable, and it sounds great on her acoustic guitar. When the full band comes in during the chorus it feels powerful—like we are joining her on her ride in her fast car.

You might also like “The Promise” by Tracy Chapman.

Fast Car Lyrics

You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere

Anyplace is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we’ll make something
But me myself I got nothing to prove

You got a fast car
And I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money

We won’t have to drive too far
Just across the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living

You 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
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 of him
So I quit school and that’s what I did

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

See I remember we were driving, driving in your car
The 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 had a feeling that I belonged
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

See I remember we were driving, driving in your car
The 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 had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

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 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
So take your fast car and keep on driving

See I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
The 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 had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away?
You gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way

written by Tracy Chapman

You know the preacher likes the cold/
He knows I’m gonna stay.

“California Dreamin” is about the Mamas and Papas’ dreams of making it to California. In their mind, California is a utopia that has a great community and is always warm. The trek to get there seems to take a lifetime for the young group. It is all they can think of, but they think they’ll make it.

The vocals on “California Dreamin” are what really stand out. Specifically, the kind of call-and-response: where the band echoes the lead singers’ line. (Technically called an echo or counterpoint). The band is great at harmonizing. An argument could be made that they are the best.

Mama Cass has the most outstanding voice. Her voice seems to stand out when they harmonize, both in this song and in others.

And who knew Michelle Phillips co-wrote “California Dreamin” along with Papa John Phillips? They are one of the best rock couples of all-time.  And Denny Doherty! Who delivers an excellent, underrated lead vocal and he is the least known bandmember. How often is the lead singer the least-known member of the band?

Part of what I love about The Mamas & The Papas is their fashion and their looks are just incredible and outrageous. And of course, their musical talent is revolutionary and still sounds fresh today. These things juxtaposed with a name that is so…old-fashion sounding can be surprising and dissonant.

The line above about how the preacher loves the cold weather because he knows he’ll get a more captive audience is one of the more memorable in rock. The flute solo sounds great. Good choice of solo instrument.  Perfect.

More songs from the Mamas and Papas.

California Dreamin’ Lyrics

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk)
On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day)
I’d be safe and warm (I’d be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)

California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day

Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
He knows I’m gonna stay (knows I’m gonna stay)

California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk)
On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day)
If I didn’t tell her (if I didn’t tell her)
I could leave today (I could leave today)

California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day

written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips

Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true/
Or is it something worse?

Springsteen’s “The River” explores similar themes as Born to Run: the Blue-Collar struggle to make a living and the lack of social mobility within the working class. It also romanticizes the opportunities for temporary escapes that are rather wholesome. In Born to Run it was riding a motorcycle, in the River it is a trip down to the river with his girlfriend. There is a lot of songs about escape, but often they are songs about drugs or other nefarious methods. In this way, it might be said that Springsteen’s music is rather wholesome.

Bruce Springsteen’s music is often dreary and fatalistic. In Springsteen’s music, there is no escaping factors that are much bigger than you. Whether it is the mob and the necessity to make ends meet (Atlantic City), the weariness of everyday life (Born to Run) or your father’s choices (The River), you aren’t really going anywhere in life, so you better take whatever pleasure you can when the opportunity arises.

The melody and tone of Springsteen’s “The River” match the lyrics well. The song sounds dreary and Springsteen’s sings the part as if he were one of the characters stuck, struggling to survive. It is hard to pull off this type of message when you are a billionaire but somehow it still resonates with his audience. The harmonica solos are particularly good and some of the best in rock music.

The River Lyrics

I come from down in the valley,
Where, mister, when you’re young,
They bring you up to do like your daddy done.
Me and Mary we met in high school,
When she was just seventeen.
We’d ride out of this valley down to where the fields were green.

We’d go down to the river
And into the river we’d dive,
Oh, down to the river we’d ride.

Then I got Mary pregnant,
And man, that was all she wrote.
And for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat.
We went down to the courthouse,
And the judge put it all to rest.
No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle,
No flowers, no wedding dress.

That night we went down to the river
And into the river we’d dive,
Oh, down to the river we did ride.
Ah-yah

I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company,
But lately there ain’t been much work on account of the economy.
Now all them things that seemed so important-
Well, mister, they vanished right into the air.
Now I just act like I don’t remember,
And Mary acts like she don’t care.

But I remember us riding in my brother’s car,
Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir.
At night on them banks I’d lie awake,
And pull her close just to feel each breath she’d take.
Now those memories come back to haunt me,
They haunt me like a curse.
Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true?
Or is it something worse?

That sends me down to the river
Though I know the river is dry.
That sends me down to the river tonight.
Ah-yah-yah
Down to the river,
My baby and I.
Oh, down to the river we ride.
Ah-yah-ay

written by Bruce Springsteen