“Fast Car” by Luke Combs

If upon reading the title of this track, which was released on 24 March 2023, you’re saying to yourself its name sounds familiar, that’s because this is a cover of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 hit “Fast Car“. As such the writing of this song is credited solely to Chapman, who by the way is known to be very selective in terms of who she allows to utilize her works. 

And as for Combs, he has pointed out that this piece was “probably (his) first favorite song” and also one that he utilized to learn how to play the guitar. In fact he’s so much a fan of Tracy’s original that refers to himself as a “girl” in the fourth verse in the name of retaining its lyrics.

This song can be found on Luke’s album “Gettin’ Old”, which was released on the aforementioned date through River House Records and Columbia Nashville. And both of the producers of this track, Jonathan Singleton and Chip Matthews, are amongst the singer’s regular collaborators.

The Lyrics of “Fast Car”

The featured narrative spans five verses and within that framework is able to weave a comprehensive, and one may even say complex tale of the rise and demise of a romance from the perspective of the young lady found therein. 

Initially we find her “working at a convenience store”, which we can generally take as being a high-burden, low-paying job. Furthermore her father has degenerated into such an alcoholic she’s tasked with taking care of him, which is how the narrator found herself stuck in such a line of employment to begin with. 

So now, she wants a way out. And relatedly, her primary attraction to the addressee seems to revolve around the fact that he has a “fast car”, which to her symbolizes a means where they can escape their current life and start a new one. So the first three verses basically center around the vocalist trying to convince the addressee in that regard.

By the time the fourth verse rolls around, we see that this couple did get around to making a powermove.  However, life has not materialized as the vocalist envisioned. Now, instead of working to take care of her father’s, she has taken on another less-than-ideal occupation, “in the market as a checkout girl”, because the addressee “still ain’t got a job”. 

In other words, she is providing for both of them. But amidst it all, they’re able to go out and chill in his “fast car”. So she endeavors on, faithful that things will work out for the best.

“I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast, I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us and your arm felt nice wrapped around my shoulder
And I, I, had a feeling that I belonged
I, I, had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone”

But in the fifth and final verse, the vocalist has now obviously come to the realization that her dream life with the addressee has proven a nightmare. The latter remains an irresponsible spouse, more concerned with hanging out than fulfilling parental responsibilities, so now it is up to Luke to ‘pay all their bills’, including the expense of taking care of their children. And the story climaxes, apparently, with the addressee ‘taking his fast car’ and bouncing on the vocalist.

So as written, this song speaks to what many young women go through, which is falling in love and running away with a man who, in reality, is not interested in doing what he has to do to properly maintain a family. 

And since the addressee’s “fast car” is a recurring plot device, perhaps what Tracy Chapman and subsequently Luke Combs is trying to get across is that a lot of times such ladies allow themselves to be smitten for the wrong reasons, such as being enamored with a guy’s car. And that would be true even if they do view the vehicle as an opportunity to get away from a home situation that sucks.

The Comments’ Section

CHRIS says:

“Since I’ve always had a deep admiration for Tracy Chapman’s original version of ‘Fast Car’, when I first came across Combs’ rendition, I couldn’t resist but appreciate it. While Tracy’s rendition will always hold a special place in my heart as my favorite, I must say that Luke did an impressive job with his interpretation. However, there is a major difference between the two renditions that is worthy of notice. Tracy’s original, carries a poignant and iconic sadness while Luke managed to infuse a subtle touch of positivity into his. It’s fascinating how two different artists can take the same set of lyrics and evoke entirely different images and emotions through their interpretations.”

DOUGLAS RAMSON says

“I’m not comfortable with Luke’s version of ‘Fast Car’ because of the mismatch between the lyrics and his masculine voice. Indeed, altering the perspective or tweaking the lyrics could have been an option to create a more seamless connection between the song’s narrative and his performance. By shifting the perspective to his own experiences as the struggling individual relying on his spouse’s support, Luke could have personalized the story and made it more relatable to his own journey. This adjustment would have allowed him to convey the emotions and challenges he faced, bringing a sense of authenticity to the performance.

However, I understand that sometimes artists try to make creative choices that might diverge from the original intention of a song. Luke may have opted to retain the lyrics as they were, perhaps aiming to pay homage to Tracy Chapman’s original version or to present his own unique interpretation of the narrative. These decisions can offer an interesting contrast and provide listeners with a fresh perspective on familiar material. It’s always intriguing to see how different artists approach the same material in their own unique ways. I guess that’s the beauty of art.”

DOLORES says:

“I’m usually not one to prefer covers over the originals. But Luke’s ‘Fast Car’ takes me back to my youth when Tracy Chapman first released her version, and I thought it was incredible back then. But let me tell you, Luke Combs’ version hits me right in the heart. I can actually feel the raw emotion pouring out of his words, and it brings the lyrics to life in a way that is so powerful. Luke Combs took on the challenge of remaking a song that carries such social relevance, and he absolutely nailed it. The way he infuses it with so much emotion is truly outstanding. There’s something about this rendition that goes beyond the surface. It reaches deep within and stirs up all these emotions. Luke has truly done justice to ‘Fast Car’, breathing a new life into it and giving it a whole new dimension.”