She sings as though her soul has lived a thousand years.

I appreciate this song so much more as a woman in my mid 50s than I ever did as a girl in my 20s.

'Fast Car' was released in 1988 and flew to the top of the charts, mega hit! The world fell in love with Tracy Chapman, she won a Grammy for this.

True story: I grew up outside Boston. I saw Tracey busking in Harvard Square back in 1985, but at the time I had no idea who she was. Just her and her guitar with an open guitar case for donations. Flash forward two years and I was in my dorm at UMass Amherst when I heard this voice singing from down the hall. I stopped by the room it was coming from and asked the two girls who they were listening to and they showed me the album cover. It was her!! Tracey Chapman.

I’m 75 yrs. old and I remember distinctly when I first heard “Fast Car” …loved it then and still love it. ❤

She breaks my heart every time I hear this song. Beautiful and brutal.

She invested so much into the men in her life and always refused to give up on them until so much time had already been wasted. Then she tells him to leave when she’s finally had enough. She followed the same pattern as her mother and the cycle repeats itself. Such a powerful song and it’s still relevant to this day.

Tracy Chapman inspired me to get out. My fast car was joining the Army. I'm so glad she had music to get out.

So many layers to this most amazing song! Drunk on pain, drunk on hope, drunk on disappointment... cycle of life, leaving the situation, then repeating it, hoping for better... Tracy Chapman, the Queen of storytelling and that voice!!

She was SO ahead of her time. It's nice to see that we've finally caught up to her. ❤

Tracy Chapman's music is timeless. Her music hits hard every time I listen.

♥ Tracy Chapman is extraordinary! Now, just a few days ago, 35 years after she released this song, it won "Song of the Year" at the CMAs.

As a grandfather, I have always liked this song but I am growing to be heartbroken by it. I envision my granddaughter as the singer. She is a beautiful young woman who has endured many struggles. Some by her own design, some by outside circumstance. But as the song plays on, I see the deadbeat men she keeps associating with. Her struggles to get ahead and their lack of help. My only reprieve comes as in the latter verses she realizes the truth of these men and tells them to ride on and let her live her life. Beautiful song painfully delivered. TY for your reaction.

I used to see her busking at the Harvard Square Subway station in Cambridge, MA. I'd miss quite a few trains listening to her.

I understand the reasons, but "I quit school that's what I did" breaks my heart every single time

Saw this young lady live in Harare, Zimbabwe at the Human Rights Concert in October 1988..... I lived there for over 30+ years from 1965 - 1999. But that Concert was really good!

She was a breath of fresh air in the time of hair bands and electronic music

Tracy Chapman is always a hidden gem for new listeners. I'm so lucky to have grown up with her music.

Tracy's performance of Fast Car with country singer Luke Combs at the recent Grammy show was phenomenal. Her shy smile and humble self with his appreciation of her as an artist was magical!

One of the best songs ever written, and her style makes it all the better. The studio version is beautiful too.

For me she is singing about the lives many live. Hoping to escape and finding another prison. Remembering the dreams of a younger self. Poignant.

Did you see? Fast Car won song of the year at this year’s CMAs! That’s Country Music Awards! A 35 year old song, testament to its and her greatness.

Middle daughter almost chose this path. (Except dad left us) I played this song over and over for her and she stepped out of destruction's way. She did fight her own addictions but now has 4 years clean and 5 years sober. And no weak men in her circle. This song... It means a lot to us.

Her lyrics knit around and enfold you. Tracy is an honest and humble performer with many great albums. What a gift she is! Hope you enjoy the dive.

Fast Car came out when I was in my 20s and blew UP. Huge hit. It made a much bigger impact on me as I grew older. It’s such a hauntingly beautiful song. Tracy Chapman is just an extraordinary artist.

Tragically beautiful song. Her voice is soft but hits you hard. Great song

It doesn't get much better than this when it comes to lyrical and musical purity.

Tracy Chapman sings so intimately. Every song, every lyric is different but absolutely real.

Love Tracy Chapman , beautiful lady and magical voice . No make up , no fake body part , just beautiful Tracy ❤

Folk singer, story teller. Let's not look past her guitar playing. Finger playing too strumming and singing. Just her and her guitar. Great stuff man, just GREATNESS

I am crushed and emotional every time I hear her sing this song. This wrung me out feeling her optimism despite the hardship, her dream of changing her life, all it would take is just the slightest change of fortune, a hand that reaches out to help. Poverty sucks! Do you not want to just be seen and heard? Nothing that I hear form music today comes close to this incredibly quiet simple song that tears my soul to pieces. To say that this is something that you would listen to while cleaning your house, is probably proof that you have no idea of what she was trying to say. Nice try but here's hoping that you will finally 'get' it.

She was very shy about her fame. I saw her once live at an Amnesty International concert. She was relatively new to the scene then, but the other acts showed her enormous kindness. She did "Don't Give Up" with Peter Gabriel, and she nailed it. When she was up for her gig, she was backed by Springsteen's E Street band. At one point she looked around at them like she couldn't believe they were there backing her. A grad school friend of mine went to college with Tracy Chapman. Apparently she really is that shy. Want a REALLY amazing female vocalist (and piano player...she originally wanted to be a concert pianist but in those days no chance): Nina Simone. One of the greatest voices in history.

One of those unforgettable songs that feel you're living and not just hearing.

tracy chapmen is one of the greatest songwriters ever, check her catalog.

one of the best written song ever.

Sometimes your best memory is remembering how much you wanted something.

Next Tracey song to hear is Baby Can I Hold You Tonight. Another beautiful gem!

She has a way of making people understand other peoples lives as if we’ve lived that way ourselves. Her gift is giving people empathy. I looooove this song. Her story telling skills are unreal

Yes, Goddess Tracy has always gotten all of the accolades that she deserves🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🌺💝✌️🐿️

I cry every time I hear this, memory 💕

She is an amazing story teller. I really enjoy her music puts a smile on my face and joy in my heart. She is her authentic self and that is beautiful just the way God created her to be.

Tracy Chapman is amazing. My favorites from her are: Behind the Wall (A-Capella) Across the Lines Talkin' About a Revolution

I know another artist did it. BUT!!! Nobody can Fast Car like her. She's amazing!!!

Hey fellows if you find a girl out there like this truthful and all, willing to put everything she's got into someone to make a better future together! Go for it, you won't go wrong! What a great voice she has!

I used to listen to this on the radio in the 90s as a single mom trapped in a semi-rural community driving my kid to daycare in a beat up brown 80s Plymouth Turismo, wishing I could just keep right on driving right on out of there.

Beautiful... goose-bump producing... so real that it hurts. I'm an old white lady who grew up in Ann Arbor and on Detroit sounds. Tracy Chapman is one of my all time favorites. Laid back... gives us hope but then rips your guts out at the same time. Yes... it is a movie with pain coming. So many, many, many of our kids have lived through this... and some never made it.

Tracy has been hands down, my absolute favorite artist/musician since I first heard her voice and songs in the late 80's when I was a teenager. Her songs are intricately and amazingly written, and timeless. Her voice is so soulful and beautiful. Her music cuts through to my core and I will never tire of it. Thank you so much for posting this video. 💗

God she's amazing. This song just shatters your heart.

This song gives me chills every single time I hear her sing it !

I remember the first time I heard Tracy Chapman (I think it was "Give Me One Reason") she reminded me so much of Bob Dylan in the way her delivery helps to tell the story / makes the words so much more impactful. Love the reactions!

They dont make music like this anymore!! You’re right!!

Talkin' Bout a Revolution by Tracy brings me tears. She is just great.

Tracy Chapman brings me to tears. Her voice is filled with so much emotion. ❤❤❤

Tracy should be famous. She’s fabulous. Everything she does is deep and meaningful

That song is so beautiful. I have strong memories listening to her music during some loving and difficult memories

At This Time In My Life is another one of Tracy Chapman's great ones.

Sade is another singer from the same time period who is so smooth and laid back.

Give Me One Reason is another of her best works. Love Tracy Chapman and have for well over 30 years.

She always comes across as a genuine artist not one of those music industry projects, truly appreciated.

Tracy Chapman is amazing. She has such a unique delivery and sound, beautiful.

Her voice is absolutely gorgeous. This song hurts, but delivers in the end. Be free.

Tracy is a uniquely beautiful and talented woman, a truly wonderful artist 😎

I listened to this so much in the 90s. None of my friends or family understood why I liked it. The thought she was boring & depressing. I knew it it was so beautiful in its simplicity. So much soul.

We should all care that they don't make music like this anymore. I can't feel today's music. Classics like this go to your soul.

This song has so much soul. She was a street singer. So talented. I first saw her on SNL in the late 80s early 90s. I can’t believe you’re just now discovering her.

Her voice is one that just gets me every time. I could listen to her sing out of the phone book. Storyteller music was really big in the 90s. I wish it would come back.

35 years later I STILL LOVE Tracy Chapman! Didn’t know her background till I read it here. As always, thank you for listening to and appreciating the ‘soundtrack of my life’. There’re some GREAT songs and artists in there, and Tracy was a fav. She spent awhile during her Tufts College years in my backyard - in and around Boston - which we are very proud of. Btw, she won 3 - that’s THREE Grammies for this song. You bring me back to my early musical loves, but I love the reaction from sensitive musical souls such as yourself. I think you have started a career!

She is one of the best. Underrated in general. Maybe because she is just herself instead of glitzed up.

She just won a CMA for songwriting ❤

Wait til you hear Revolution, one of the best live performances I've ever heard.

From the first time I heard Fast Car on the radio I was in love with Tracy Chapman. I thought she was singing my life out. Bought that album asap, with photos of her, and I thought she was as beautiful looking as her music was beautiful. There’s nothing of Tracy Chapman I don’t love.

That album is my all time favourite…seriously every song is as god as the next…stories and just magical music..

Takes me back to my early days in the Air Force. I was stationed in Japan when this came out and I instantly went to the store and bought the cassette (yes I'm that old). Her lyrics are amazing

Tracy Chapman is a great singer, songwriter With a fantastic voice and intelligent, insightful lyrics. She is a very private person who once said, after the release of her first album, that being famous and in the spotlight didn't suit her, and she might be the wrong person for the job. She is also multifaceted, If you like "Fast Car" try "Give Me One Reason". It's a Blues tune which she performed live for nearly a decade before releasing it.

Tracy Chapman came out with Fast Car in the 80s. Bought the album immediately and was in love with her voice and her truth. I think it was the Grammy awards...she walked out on stage in bare feet with her guitar and blew the roof off.! Brought me to tears.😇❤️

Glad you noticed right away... She's perfect. Deliberate. Honest. Got to see her at the first Lilith Fair. My son bought me the tickets for my birthday; he was barely out of high school. ❤❤❤

I remember the first time I heard Tracy on a college radio station in Tampa...I was mesmerized and I kept calling to request it AGAIN till they CUT ME OFF! I just LOVE HER ! Thank you for The reaction! YOU ROCK!!! More Women PLEASE!!💞🕊☮

and I love Tracy Chapman's voice

Tracy Chapman is one of the most underplayed and unappreciated artists! I have listened to her and still have my albums, cassettes and CDs. I love her voice and as you said, her songs paint a picture in your mind and tells the story of so many people’s lives.

Fast Car has regained popularity in 2023, as some Country singer has done it! My favorite by her is "Give me One Reason" !!

Everything about her voice, her lyrics, I love. As the last lady said...Now I am in my 60's I appreciate the sensitivity in her lyrics. Good on you for stepping out of your comfort zone. All the best and cheers, from Elizabeth in Australia.

The whole album was great. Every "little" song. A masterpiece.

All Tracy Chapman is fabulous. Don’t miss any.

Love Tracy Chapman. Every time we went on a car journey this was played

One of my top 10 favorite songs of all time. I didn't really appreciate it when I was younger, but as I grow older my appreciation for it has grown and grown. A stunning piece of music, performance and lyrics.

Wow, I was a little surprised to hear you say it's the kind of song that puts you in a good mood! I must've heard it hundreds of times when it was a radio hit, and I'd usually end up switching stations because it made me too sad.

To me, her style is reminiscent of Joan Armatrading, another British singer of the 70’s who I believe cracked the USA.

Tracy Chapman just became the first Black person to win Song of the Year at the CMAs. It was covered by CW singer this year. I am sure it was great but nobody can sing it like Tracy. She is one of my very favorite singers

❤❤❤ Tracey Chapman! I remember listening to this on the radio when I was 13 and thinking I feel this song! "I gotta plan" "finally see what means to be living" I couldn't wait to own my life instead of being made to live my mother's! Love this song! Check out Give Me One Reason!

Love, love, love, Tracy Chapman!

Found Tracy back in the 80s just after losing my mum - loved her vocal style - soulful lyrics

I fell for this video, so many years ago. What took them so long to acknowledge such greatness. Tracy, you are a goddess.

The expression on your face in the first few seconds of this song pretty much says it all. I think what she conveys with her presence and talent reels all of us in who value such beautiful authenticity. No need for bells and whistles when one has such deep roots. Whenever I feel down, there's something about her song "All That You Have Is Your Soul" that puts me right back on track. "don't be tempted by the shiny apple, don't you eat of a bitter fruit, hunger only for a taste of justice, hunger only for a world of truth".

Once you hear her voice and rhythm of her songs you will never forget the smoothness and flow of the music and lyric.

Smoke and Ashes is my favorite Tracy Chapman song. Been in love with this phenomenal woman for 35 plus years.

Joan Armitrading, Tracy Chapman, The Police, Dire Straits and Eurythmics - The nuclei of the soundtrack of my youth. Bloody marvellous!

This is, was and always will be a magnificent song.

I grew up loving this song and her. This is one of the best songs ever sung by one of the most beautiful and powerful soulful voices ever. Tracy has always been one of my top five favorites overall. ❤ So glad you finally heard it and appreciate it as much as it should be.

I think everyone missed the extended metaphor in this song... she literally was comparing the Guy with the fast Car to her Dad..listen to her last verse about the guy seeing more of his friends then his kids

This a great example of how singers with a unique or unusual voice get a great song. They write their own songs.