這張專輯是聽英文歌的青澀年少..一發片就買了..不知不覺也20年了..
最近 ADELE 抱走葛萊梅6項大獎也讓我想起 Tracy Chapman
以下是網路整理的相關資訊...
Tracy Chapman是80年代末期崛起的靈魂創作女歌手,
歌曲中時透露著社會關懷和寫實,
這首Fast Car歌詞寫的是一位女子為了逃離酒鬼的父親
搭上男友的快車(Fast Car)遠走高飛,
沒想到新生活不如她想的如意,男友也變成酒鬼,
於是她想再搭上Fast Car卻感到有些絕望,
似乎車再快也沒辦法把悲慘的生活拋諸在後,,,,。Fast Car發行後引起廣大的迴響,
喚醒社會的良知,Tracy的同名專輯銷售千萬張,
當年擭得葛萊美獎最佳新進藝人、
流行女歌手、最佳當代民謠專輯等3項大獎。
這麼inspiring的曲子,而他自己也具備了非常棒的soul vocal,
當然也希望他能創作出像Tracy一樣能喚醒社會感動人心的歌。
Fast Car是 Tracy Chapman 1988年同名專輯中最廣為人知的一首,
Tracy Chapman也在當年獲得葛萊梅獎,在銷售量上也有可觀的表現。
這首歌在敘事上是漸次的故事性發展,描述底層社會階級難以打破的循環。
歌曲敘事者與酗酒父親住在一起,她滿懷希望和男朋友
(註)一起開著快車(fast car),離開沒有未來的鄉下小鎮,
來到大城市的郊區;然而他們還是沒有打破這詛咒般的循環,
男朋友開始熬夜酗酒,對他們的孩子漠不關心。
最後女主角要求男朋友再度做決定:分手或繼續下去。
Tracy Chapman用很簡單的文字描述底層社會的心聲,
結構上讓副歌多次重複,讓主角短暫的幸福與「could be someone」
的夢想屢次遭逢殘酷現實。Tracy Chapman接受訪問時說:
「It's not really about a car at all... basically it's about
a relation-ship that doesn't work out because it's starting
from the wrong place.」
註:雖然Tracy Chapman不曾對她的性向做過公開表示,
不過Alice Walker(小說【紫色姊妹花】的作者)
曾在一篇訪談中談到兩人的戀情。因此有些說法會以她的性向而對歌曲加以詮釋。
You got a fast car
你有一輛跑得很快的車
I want a ticket to anywhere
我想要一張可上任何地方的車票
Maybe we make a deal
也許我們可以打個商量
Maybe together we can get somewhere
也許我們可以一起到某些地方
Any place is better
任何地方都好
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
一切從零開始,不會有任何損失
Maybe we'll make something
也許我們可以做些事情
But me myself I got nothing to prove
但我無法保證什麼
You got a fast car
你有一輛跑得很快的車
And I got a plan to get us out of here
我有個計劃可以離開這裡
I've been working at the convenience store
我一直在一家便利商店上班
Managed to save just a little bit of money
存了一點兒錢
We won't have to drive too far
我們不必開得太遠
Just 'cross the border and into the city
只要過了邊界,到城裡去
You and I can both get jobs
你我都可以找到工作
And finally see what it means to be living
最後,體會活著的意義
You see my old man's got a problem
你知道我老爹的毛病
He live with the bottle that's the way it is
他整天就是與酒瓶為伍
He says his body's too old for working
他說他的身體老得無法工作
I say his body's too young to look like his
我說他還年輕,不該是現在這個樣子
My mama went off and left him
我媽媽離他而去
She wanted more from life than he could give
他無法給她想要的生活
I said somebody's got to take care of him
我想總得有人來照顧他
So I quit school and that's what I did
所以我休學,就是這樣
You got a fast car
你有一輛跑得很快的車
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
但它快得夠讓我們遠走高飛嗎?
We gotta make a decision
我們得趕快作決定
We leave tonight or live and die this way
今晚就走?還是這樣混吃等死?
I remember we were driving driving in your car
我記得我們開著車
The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
車速飛快,讓我覺得好像喝醉酒
City lights lay out before us
街燈在我們面前一字排開
And your arm felt nice wrapped around my shoulder
你的手臂環繞在我肩膀,感覺真好
And I had a feeling that I belonged
讓我有一種歸屬感
And I had feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
我還覺得自己能有一番成就
You got a fast car
你有一輛跑得很快的車
And we go cruising to entertain ourselves
我們開著四處晃遊
You still ain't got a job
你還是沒找到工作
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
我在一家超市當收銀員
I know things will get better
我知道一切會逐漸好轉
You'll find work and I'll get promoted
你會找到工作,我會獲得晉升
We'll move out of the shelter
我們可以搬離收容所
Buy a big house and live in the suburbs
買間郊區的大房子
You got a fast car
你有一輛跑得很快的車
And I got a job that pays all our bills
我有一份工作,可以付所有的帳單
You stay out drinking late at the bar
你總在酒吧酗酒到很晚
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
見朋友比見到孩子的時間還多
I'd always hoped for better
我一直期待會有改善
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
心想也許我倆可以找到方法
I got no plans I ain't going nowhere
我沒有計劃要去什麼地方
So take your fast car and keep on driving
那麼,就繼續開你的車吧
You got a fast car
你有一輛跑得很快的車
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
但它快得可以讓你遠走高飛嗎?
You gotta make a decision
你必須做個決定
You leave tonight or live and die this way
今晚就走?還是就這樣混吃等死?