Pop Sheet Music: Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

There's a ressurgence of popularity around Tracy Chapman's iconic tune "Fast Car" and we're here for it with fresh new piano sheet music arrangements for easy, intermediate, and advanced level players.

About Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”

“Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman, released in 1988, is a critically acclaimed folk rock song that depicts the harsh reality of a working poor woman striving to break free from poverty. The song gained significant popularity after Chapman’s heartfelt performance at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert, which led to a surge in album sales and propelled “Fast Car” to number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s poignant lyrics and subtle folk-rock arrangement resonated with listeners, earning it three Grammy Award nominations, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and winning Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

With its timeless message and emotional impact, “Fast Car” received widespread acclaim from music critics and solidified Tracy Chapman’s status as a prominent singer-songwriter. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and it remains her highest-ranking song on the list, penned and performed solely by a female artist. The song’s lasting influence has been recognized by its inclusion in various “best of” lists, such as Pitchfork’s 1980s song list, cementing its place as a classic in the realm of folk and rock music.

About the Luke Combs version of “Fast Car”

In 2023, American country music artist Luke Combs released a rendition of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” on his album Gettin’ Old. The song became a major hit on contemporary hit radio, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian Hot 100, surpassing the success of Chapman’s original version.

Combs stayed true to Chapman’s original lyrics, including the line about the protagonist working as a checkout girl, and he aimed to honor the song’s perfection without making any major changes. The only slight changes are the opening guitar riff between verses and sections is cut in half and Combs’ version is a half-step lower in the key of A-flat major.

Luke Combs’ version of “Fast Car” achieved significant milestones, topping the Country Airplay chart, making Chapman the first African-American woman to achieve a country number one with a solo composition. Furthermore, it became the first cover of a pop single to reach number one on a Billboard chart based on country radio airplay since 2008. Tracy Chapman expressed her positive sentiments towards Combs and his rendition, being grateful for the success of the song on the country charts and embracing the new fans the cover brought.