Lyrically Speaking for July 27

Hello Sunday Copious Notes visitors! After last weeks' abomination of a song, I want to rebound with one of the best-written songs I know of that is not Smashing Pumpkins related. It's also a song I believe everyone has heard already.

Tracy Chapman broke out with Fast Car in 1988 and it became an instant classic. Aside from its Grammy-winning status, we have a song that does something many songs do not: it tells a story. Even more impressive is the fact that Chapman has a melody that is extremely pleasing and you can hear 99% of the lyrics without needing to read the liner notes.

I love hearing this song and paying attention to the sequence of events as the story unfolds. You can picture Chapman working in her small jobs and imagine her alcoholic father needing help. The progression of her life where she gets better jobs and becomes increasingly frustrated with her boyfriend are clear. The words are powerful and the song can be moving at times.

I don't want to say much more, as the song really speaks for itself. I highly recommend that if you don't already own this song, head on over to iTunes and pony up the 99 cents.

From Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut, this is Fast Car:

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 'cross 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

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 And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car And we go cruising to entertain ourselves You still ain't got a job And I work in a 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 big house and live in the suburbs

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 would find it I got no plans I ain't going nowhere So take your fast car and keep on driving

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