Some songs, no matter how many decades pass, still pierce the heart as if they were brand new. Fast Car was originally Tracy Chapman’s timeless hit in 1988, but when Luke Combs sang it again, a whole new generation saw their own reflections within the lyrics.
A simple dream The song tells the story of a young soul longing to escape the cycle of poverty and reach for a better tomorrow. Inside that worn-out car lies the belief that leaving is enough to change everything.
When Luke Combs retells the story With his deep and unpolished country voice, Luke doesn’t just revive the song—he transforms it into a heartfelt confession. His rendition paints the picture of countless working-class Americans, carrying unfinished dreams but still driving their own “fast cars” toward hope.
The enduring power of music Fast Car proves how music transcends time. When Tracy Chapman wrote it, she could never have imagined that, more than three decades later, Luke Combs would bring it to an entirely new audience—people also searching for a reason to believe in everyday life.
🎵 Suggested listening: Luke Combs – Fast Car (live version hits even deeper).
You got a fast car And I want a ticket to anywhere Maybe we make a deal Maybe together we can get somewhere
Any place is better Starting from zero, got nothing to lose Maybe we’ll make something Me, myself, I got nothing to prove
You got a fast car And I got a plan to get us out of here Been working at the convenience store Managed to save just a little bit of money
Won’t have to drive too far Just across the border and into the city And you and I can both get jobs Finally, see what it means to be living
See, my old man’s got a problem He lived with the bottle, that’s the way it is Said his body’s too old for working His body’s too young to look like his
So, 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 Is it fast enough so we could fly away? Still gotta make a decision Leave tonight, or live and die this way
So, I remember when we were driving, driving in your car Speed so fast, I felt like I was drunk City lights laid 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
You got a fast car We go cruising, entertain ourselves You still ain’t got a job So I work in the market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted And we’ll move out of the shelter Buy a bigger house, live in the suburbs
So, 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
You got a fast car 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 Take your fast car and keep on driving
So, 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
You got a fast car Is it fast enough, so we could fly away? You still gotta make a decision Leave tonight, or live and die this way
