Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
Hello! Below you'll find my "Fast Car" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This song by Tracy Chapman is a total classic and a very moving piece of narrative songwriting. The original is build around an acoustic guitar riff, but it sounds great translated to piano.
Enjoy!
Fast Car Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Fast Car:
Fast Car Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x4
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x4
[Verse 1]
Note: D = Dmaj7, E = Esus4
D A F#m E
You got a fast car, I want a ticket to anywhere
D A F#m
Maybe we make a deal, maybe together
You got a fast car, I want a ticket to anywhere
D A F#m
Maybe we make a deal, maybe together
E
We can get somewhere
D A F#m
Any place is better, starting from zero
D A F#m
Any place is better, starting from zero
E
Got nothing to lose
D A F#m
Maybe we'll make something, me myself
D A F#m
Maybe we'll make something, me myself
E
I got nothing to prove
[Instrumental]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
[Verse 2]
D A F#m E
You got a fast car, I got a plan to get us out of here
D A
Been working at the convenience store
F#m E
Managed to save just a little bit of money.
D A F#m
Won't have to drive too far, just 'cross the
Won't have to drive too far, just 'cross the
E
Border and into the city
D A
You and I can both get jobs
D A
You and I can both get jobs
F#m E
And finally see what it means to be living
And finally see what it means to be living
[Instrumental]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
[Verse 3]
D A
You see, my old man's got a problem
F#m E
He live with the bottle, that's the way it is
D A
He says his body's too old for working
He live with the bottle, that's the way it is
D A
He says his body's too old for working
F#m E
His body's too young to look like his.
D A
My mama went off and left him
D A
My mama went off and left him
F#m E
She wanted more from life than he could give
D A
I said, "Somebody's got to take care of him."
D A
I said, "Somebody's got to take care of him."
F#m E
So I quit school and that's what I did.
[Instrumental]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
[Verse 4]
D A F#m E
You got a fast car, is it fast enough so we can fly away?
D A
We gotta make a decision:
D A F#m E
You got a fast car, is it fast enough so we can fly away?
D A
We gotta make a decision:
F#m E
Leave tonight or live and die this way
[Instrumental]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
[Chorus]
(Esus4) D
So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
A
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
Fm7
City lights lay out before us
E
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder and
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling that I belonged
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling I could be someone
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder and
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling that I belonged
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling I could be someone
D E
Be someone, be someone
[Instrumental]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
[Verse 5]
D A F#m E
You got a fast car, we go cruising, entertain ourselves
D A
You still ain't got a job
F#m E
Now I work in the market as a checkout girl
D A
I know things will get better
Now I work in the market as a checkout girl
D A
I know things will get better
F#m E
You'll find work and I'll get promoted
D A
We'll move out of the shelter
We'll move out of the shelter
F#m E
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs
[Instrumental]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
[Chorus]
(Esus4) D
So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
A
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
Fm7
City lights lay out before us
E
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder and
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder and
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling that I belonged
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling I could be someone
I......... had a feeling that I belonged
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling I could be someone
D E
Be someone, be someone
[Instrumental]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
[Verse 6]
D A F#m E
You got a fast car, I got a job that pays all our bills
D A
You stay out drinking late at the bar
F#m E
You see more your friends than you do your kids
D A
I'd always hoped for better
D A
I'd always hoped for better
F#m E
Thought maybe together you and me'd find it
D A
I got no plans I ain't going nowhere
D A
I got no plans I ain't going nowhere
F#m E
So take your fast car and keep on driving
So take your fast car and keep on driving
[Instrumental]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
[Chorus]
(Esus4) D
So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
A
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
Fm7
City lights lay out before us
City lights lay out before us
E
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder and
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling that I belonged
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling I could be someone
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder and
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling that I belonged
D F#m E
I......... had a feeling I could be someone
D E
Be someone, be someone
[Instrumental]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x2
[Verse 7]
D A F#m E
You got a fast car, is it fast enough so you can fly away?
D A
You gotta make a decision
F#m E
Leave tonight or live and die this way
Leave tonight or live and die this way
[Outro]
| Dmaj7 A | F#m Esus4 | x3
| Dmaj7 A |
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Fast Car Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Fast Car" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Fast Car" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
