整理报道：朱运辉

1988年7月在伦敦举行的一场致敬南非民主之父曼德拉70岁生日的群星演唱会上，特蕾西查普曼（Tracy Chapman）因为临时被要求上台“救援”，才让全世界听到了她创作的这首《Fast Car》。

《Fast Car》收录在她于1988年4月5日推出的《Tracy Chapman》专辑中。

那场演唱会上，24岁还是新人的特蕾西查普曼，早完成自己3首歌曲的表演时间。但因为接下来以神秘嘉宾身分登场的史提夫汪达（Stevie Wonder），赶到现场后发现其主要乐器键盘的硬盘失踪了而无法献唱，为免演出中断，主办单位临时要求还在后台的特蕾西查普曼再次出场表演。此时台上只有一枝麦克风，带着吉他的她，就自弹自唱了这首刚发行的新创作《Fast Car》。

特蕾西查普曼的作品，主要为民谣摇滚类，一向旋律简单，朗朗上口，但歌词却深刻，发人深省。《Fast Car》说的，是美国社会中的弱势非裔女性，歌中主角希望能乘上一辆能带她脱离不公现实的车子，摆脱弱势族群的宿命。

结果，这首富有故事性的歌曲，打动了全场、甚至全世界的听众，大家记住了她的名字，并留意起她的作品。那一张原本没太多人留意的专辑，很快就成了询问度最高的专辑，还很快就冲上了销售榜；而歌曲也空降排行榜，是当时的热门金曲，也传唱成后来的经典。

特蕾西查普曼在那一年的格林美音乐奖上，夺下最佳新人及最佳民谣专辑奖，而《Fast Car》也让她获颁最佳流行女歌手奖。

《Fast Car》
作词：Tracy Chapman
作曲：Tracy Chapman

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

（歌词翻译）

你有辆很棒的车
而我梦想能去任何地方
我们可以就此达成一致
结伴而行，浪迹天涯

任何地方都好
纵使不顺也不损失什么 一切才刚刚开始
也许可以计划几件大事
但我除了自己 没有什么能拿来担保

你准备好那辆车
而我做好了离开的计划：
我在便利店工作了一些时候
已经有了一点点储蓄
其实不用去很远的地方
开过州界开进城市
在那里我们找份工作
然后一同见证生活的意义

我老爸终日酗酒
觉得自己那把老骨头已不能再工作
其实他身强力壮 如二十出头的少年
妈妈得不到想要的生活 很早便舍他而去
可必须得有个人来照顾他啊
于是我退了学在便利店找了份工
现在你都知道了 这就是我的过去

你那辆车很快
但是能快到让我俩飞起来么？
我们赶紧做个决定吧
要不今晚离开
要不就过着这死水般的生活
慢慢老去

犹记得曾坐在你的车上
速度快到我恍如微醺
街灯飞逝
蜷缩在你温暖的怀抱中
突然有一种强烈的感觉
我，可以去过另一种人生

坐上车
让我们尽兴畅游吧
虽然你还没找到工作
我只拿着收银员的一点点工资
但我坚信一切都会好起来的
有一天 你会找到工作 我也会升职
那时我们会搬出这小棚屋
买栋郊区的大房子 悠然而居

你仍在路上开着
而我有了一份可以维持家庭的工作
那时你却终日流连酒吧
和朋友厮混 忘记了自己的家
我会始终朝前看
看终点那我们一起发现生活的答案
我从没想过离开你的身边
所以尽情地开吧
无论你驶向何方

你的车很快么
能快到带我们飞向天空么
赶紧做决定吧
离开或者留下……