My Gen X Playlist: Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

I’ve lightly thought about a few over the years.

Coffee Roaster – I’ve always had a love for coffee. Years ago, I bought a large personal coffee roaster and when I have time, I roast my own coffee beans. The smell of a fresh roast is like no other. I’ve also visited a few coffee plantations in Hawaii. It’s interesting how coffee is harvested from beginning to end to eventually fill your cup. If money wasn’t an issue, I’d open my own coffee house and brew coffee from my fresh roasted beans.

Professional Gambler – First of all, this choice makes absolutely no sense at all and is ridiculous for obvious reasons. But I’ve always wanted to try to see if I could make it as a professional gambler. Not playing Texas hold’em as seen on television. I’d stay away from the craps tables because dice are too unpredictable. I’d stick to playing black jack. I’d set internal rules for guardrails and grind it out at the tables. As I’m writing this, I’m beginning to sway a bit and question my sanity. This was a dream I had when I was in my 20s and 30s, when I was young and free (and stupid?). It feels as though this dream set sail long ago. It’s best to retire it to the bookshelf of crazy ideas.

Voice Over Actor – This may be as crazy as the professional gambler idea. Someone once threw this idea at me out of the blue. Notice I mentioned “someone” singular, so it’s not an ever growing grass roots effort here. Plus, I can’t vouch for the quality of my friend’s hearing, either. But it sounded like a fun idea that I will NEVER pursue. I think there may be another open spot on that bookshelf I just mentioned. . .

I typically would daydream about these other jobs as an escape from mine when things became extremely stressful. Queue music to Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car.

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

– Tracy Chapman, Fast Car

It never eventually came to that, the fleeing, I mean. It helped replaying the scene in my head, if only for a minute of respite. Then I’d return back to reality, lowering my head once again, trudging forward. I admit, I once did a Google search looking for voice over jobs . . . As you can see, I didn’t quit my day job.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

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 would 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