Tracy Chapman Fast Car Meaning

The song “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman is one that you can arguably say best represents any one of these “isms”. However, after reading and listening to this song, I believe that it mostly embodies Romanticism. This literary movement of Romanticism first began in Europe as a reaction against the rationality of Enlightenment. So, since it was a reaction against Enlightenment, this style of literature is one that champions imagination, emotion, and the individual over reason, science, and society. We see an example of imagination being used in this song when Chapman imagines that life will one day get better:
“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”. …show more content…

In the song, she mentions how she currently works in a market as a checkout girl while her significant other still doesn’t have a job. All of this isn’t where she wants to be. However, this doesn’t stop her from looking to the positives and having a hopeful view for the future despite these conditions. With this use of imagination to display a somewhat impractical/unrealistic view towards reality, it shows the song’s connection to this literary movement. Another example that displays Romanticism is found in verse five, “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”. In this part of the song, we see Chapman use the value of emotion. Here, she expresses how she feels like she belongs and that she could be someone when her partner wraps their arms around her. With this lyric, the artist reveals her emotions which can be used to link the song the Romanticism movement. So, in Tracy Chapman’s song “Fast Car” we see her employ imagination and emotion which are two main characteristics associated with the literary movement of Romanticism. Due to this, I believe that this song best represents this particular