Tracy Chapman – “Tracy Chapman”

Tracy ChapmanRecuerdo perfectamente la primera vez que escuché a Tracy Chapman, estaba viendo en la televisión el concierto homenaje a Nelson Mandela por su 70 cumpleaños en Junio de 1988, acababa de ver a UB40 cantar junto a Chrissie Hinde su version del “I Got You Babe” de Sonny & Cher, cuando de repente apareció una , para mí, totalmente desconocida Tracy Chapman, solo ella, guitarra acústica en mano ,cantando una canción que ya no pude sacar de mi cabeza, se trataba de “Fast Car”. El impacto fue brutal, pero no sólo para mí, de repente todo el mundo empezó a hablar de ella y las emisoras de radio empezaron a programar sus canciones. Yo me hice con el disco al día siguiente, y descubrí que aquello que había escuchado no era casualidad, “Fast Car” no era la única canción buena, allí había canciones preciosas, desde la combativa “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution”, pasando por “Behind The Wall” que cuenta un caso de violencia doméstica solo con su voz, la preciosa “Baby Can I Hold You” o la historia de amor obsesivo de “For My Lover”. El debut de Tracy Chapman la colocó en la cima durante algunos meses y aunque intentó repetir la jugada ya nunca volvió a conseguir lo mismo. Yo me quedo con su imagen en Wembley cantando ella sola ese pedazo de canción que es “Fast Car”.

You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Any place is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we’ll make something
Me myself I got nothing to prove

You got a fast car
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
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

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
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
Is it fast enough so we can fly away?
We gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way

So remember when we were driving driving in your car
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
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
We go cruising, 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 bigger house and live in the suburbs

So remember when we were driving driving in your car
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
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
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 find it
I got no plans I ain’t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving

So remember when we were driving driving in your car
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
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so you can fly away?
You gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way

ó https://itun.es/es/UlHVe

Bonus Aquí aquella irrepetible actuación

Bonus 2 . Mi hijo mayor el otro día me pone en el coche una versión en clave dance de “Fast Car“, cuando le puse la original no se lo podía creer. No hay mal que por bien no venga.