They Got a (Not So) Fast Car!

American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman's Fast Car is a song which I liked from the very first time I heard it. The lyrics of the song go as follows:

You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere

Anyplace is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we'll make something
But me myself I got nothing to prove

You got a fast car
And 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
We 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

You 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
I say 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
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
We leave tonight or live and die this way

I remember we were driving driving in your car
The 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
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
And we go cruising to 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 big house and live in the suburbs

You got a fast car
And 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

You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way
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The above picture is of a bus stolen by a 20-year (18, according to some) old guy, who then went out to pick up people from the streets and drove out of New Orleans during the hurricane Katrina. The guy reqqued 60 persons and drove them to safety. Jabbar Gibson, who was kicked out of high school and had been commiting felonies, said that police in New Orleans told him and others to take the school bus and try to get out of the flooded city.

Authorities were not sure if they would prosecute him for stealing the bus. Later I read that he was also offered movie deals.

They got a really not-so-fast car; but it saved their lives.
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Sources: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3334317 (For the pic)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Chapman
http://imdb.com/name/nm1102495/
http://www.lyrics007.com/Tracy%20Chapman%20Lyrics/Fast%20Car%20Lyrics.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3334317.html
http://www.click2houston.com/news/4923495/detail.html
http://junkyardblog.net/archives/week_2005_08_28.html
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/126650.php
http://poplicks.com/2005/09/school-bus-to-safety.html