| Tracy Chapman – Fast Car Lyrics | 5 years ago |
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'Tracy's starting from zero, nothing to lose, nothing to prove - but she's also got dreams, hopes, and an alcoholic father, who her mother abandoned because he could not fulfill her mom's aspirations. Out of a sense of duty, 'Tracy' chose not to abandon her father. He hasn't made, and won't make, any progress. His social alcoholism is obviously far more important to him than any contributions he could possibly make to his family. Yet he still has that fast car, which must require more time and energy each year from him - and increasingly more energy, material, space, and money from 'Tracy' - to maintain. Even during the last two stanzas, 'Tracy' doesn't quite have the heart to just abandon or kick out a man she still remembers fondly - to do what 'Tracy's mom did to her dad, and 'Tracy'. She instead puts the choice to him. It would seem that one of her few remaining hopes is that he is still a good enough person to have the guts to stop holding them all back by being her dependent, including himself - so that she might (maybe) be able to give her kids a better future. (Even his future stands a good chance of improving, by leaving.) Belongs in a pantheon of criminally underrated songs that age like fine wines. jerry10239, you're absolutely right, by the way. |
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