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FAST CAR

Here's how to play Fast Car by Tracy Chapman, released in 1988, this song uses a Capo on the 2nd fret.

CHORDS USED

G Major 3rd on A String 5th on B String.png
C Major Open Position.png
Em Open Position.png
D Major.png

PICKING PATTERN

Fast Car TAB for Website.png

STRUMMING PATTERN

Chorus Strumming Pattern

Horse With No Name Easier Strumming Pattern

CHORDS & LYRICS

INTRO (0:00)

|Cmaj7   G      |Em   D     |  x 4

 

VERSE (0:20)
Cmaj7               G           
You got a fast    car, and
Em                       D               
I want a ticket to anywhere
Cmaj7                      G       
Maybe we make a deal
Em                                     D                              
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Cmaj7          G          
Any place is better
Em                             D                       
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Cmaj7                     G                      
Maybe we'll make something, but
Em                D                           
me myself I got nothing to prove

​

INTRO 2 (0:38)

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |
|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

​

VERSE 2 (0:48)
Cmaj7          G          
You got a fast car, and
Em              D                              
I got a plan to get us outta here
           Cmaj7                        G                                 
I been working at the convenience store
Em                           D                              
managed to save just a little bit of money
Cmaj7                        G 
won’t have to drive too far
        Em                          D                    
just 'cross the border and into the city
Cmaj7      G                              
You and I can both get jobs, and
Em         D                              
finally see what it means to be living

​

INTRO 3 (1:06)
|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |
|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

 

VERSE 3 (1:15)
               Cmaj7              G              
You see my old man's got a problem
      Em                                D          
He lives with the bottle, that's the way it is
                      Cmaj7                   G        
He says his body's too old for working
       Em                         D                    
His body's too young to look like his
       Cmaj7                G             
My mama went off and left him
      Em                                     D                         
she wanted more from life than he could give
            Cmaj7                         G                    
I said, “somebody's got to take care of him"
     Em                         D             
so I quit school and that's what I did

 

INTRO 4 (1:34)
|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

​

VERSE 4 (1:43)
Cmaj7      G   
You got a fast car,
              Em                       D               
but is it fast enough so we can fly away?
Cmaj7                G          
We gotta make a decision
Em                        D                     
leave tonight, or live and die this way

​

INTRO 5 (1:52)

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

​

CHORUS (2:01)
                                                       C
So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
       G
the speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
Em
     the city lights lay out before us
                 D
and your arm felt nice wrapped round my shoulder
        C  Em          D
and I         had a feeling that I belonged
        C  Em           D
and I          had a feeling I could be someone
C                   D 
be someone, be someone.

 

INTRO 6 (2:22)

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

​

VERSE 5 (2:31)
Cmaj7              G 
You got a fast car
     Em                        D                      
and we go cruising to entertain ourselves
Cmaj7                       G 
You still ain't got a job,
         Em                          D              
and I work in a market as a checkout girl.
Cmaj7                     G      
I know things will get better
Em                             D                      
you'll find work and I'll get promoted
Cmaj7                 G   
We'll move out of the shelter
Em                               D                       
buy a bigger house, and live in the suburbs

​

INTRO 7 (2:50)

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

​

CHORUS (2:59)

                                                       C
So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
        G
the speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
                Em
and the city lights lay out before us
                 D
and your arm felt nice wrapped round my shoulder
        C  Em          D
and I         had a feeling that I belonged
       C  Em           D
and I         had a feeling I could be someone
C                    D 
be someone, be someone.

​

INTRO 8 (3:19)

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

​

VERSE 6 (3:29)
Cmaj7             G 
You got a fast car
      Em                       D                      
and I got a job that pays all our bills.
       Cmaj7            G                    
You stay out drinking late at the bar,
       Em                                 D                   
see more of your friends than you do of your kids.
Cmaj7                   G    
I'd always hoped for better.
                Em                        D                                     
Thought maybe together     you and me would find it,
  Cmaj7              G                       
I got no plans, I ain't going nowhere,
    Em                            D                       
so take your fast car and keep on driving.

​

INTRO 9 (3:47)

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

​

CHORUS (3:55)
C
So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car             G
the speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
                 Em
and the city lights lay out before us
                D
and your arm felt nice wrapped round my shoulder
        C  Em          D
and I         had a feeling that I belonged
       C  Em           D
and  I        had a feeling I could be someone
C                       D 
be someone, be someone

​

INTRO 10 (4:16)

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

​

VERSE 7 (4:26)
Cmaj7             G 
You got a fast car,
Em                                      D         
but is it fast enough so you can fly away?
Cmaj7                           G     
You gotta make a decision:
Em                        D                 
leave tonight, or live and die this way.

​

OUTRO (4:35)

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

|Cmaj7      G      |Em      D      |

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