Fast Car — Tracy Chapman vs. Luke Combs

Welcome back to Chillers – Cover Up, where we pit two versions of the same song against each other to see which one reigns supreme. The originals are cold, the covers are warm — so make sure you Cover Up and get ready to dive in.

The Song: Fast Car is one of the most beautifully tragic songs in modern music — a story of love, poverty, and the desperate hope for something better. Minimal in instrumentation but rich in lyricism, the verses simmer before bursting into a chorus that feels like both freedom and frustration. The woman at the heart of the song looks backward and forward at once: nostalgic, despairing, making excuses, then finally fed up. What starts with optimism slowly breaks down into resignation. It’s a working-class anthem for anyone who’s ever felt trapped and dreamed of escaping. A Chiller standing tall among Chillers.

The Original: Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut album in 1988 was nothing short of a revelation. With just her acoustic guitar and that unmistakable voice, Chapman conveyed volumes. You hear her sadness, her anger, her exhaustion. By the end, you feel as fed up as she does. It’s perfection in simplicity — raw emotion delivered with precision.

The Cover: In 2023, Luke Combs gave Fast Car his own country spin. Where Chapman pulls back, Combs leans in. His voice cracks and warbles, his guitar twangs, the slides slide — it’s a full-bodied country rendition dripping with sincerity. You can tell the song left a deep mark on him as an artist, and he pours himself into every line.

The Verdict: This one was tough. Both versions have power, both hit hard, and both demand to be belted while flying down the highway. But goosebumps don’t lie — and I kept finding myself returning to Chapman’s version. Both deserve respect, but Tracy’s original holds the keys to the car.

If you don’t sing along, I’m not sure you’re human.