our queer elders
pickup
tracy chapman
“I’m still writing story songs.”
—t.c. in a 2025 interview with the new york times
tracy chapman in 1988 at the human rights now! concert in budapest. photo by zoran veselinovic.
known for her socially-conscious story songs, tracy chapman (b. 1964) rose to fame with her incredible performance at nelson mandela’s 70th birthday tribute concert in 1988, where she played “fast car” and “talkin’ bout a revolution.” the world was immediately taken with her powerful voice and lyrical storytelling.
tracy’s accolades are numerous and wide reaching. not only has she won several grammys, including best new artist in 1989, in 2023, she was also the first Black woman to reach a number one song on the country charts with a solo composition and the first Black woman to ever win a country music association award.
a private figure, tracy has largely remained out of the public eye, making her few public appearances even more impactful.
about the song
tracy chapman and luke combs at the 2024 grammys, photograph from getty images
when I was first putting together a list of potential subjects for the project, my friend asked if I would ever write a song about tracy chapman, and I laughed—I couldn’t fathom writing a song about such an influential songwriter, let alone someone living!! then I saw her surprise performance with luke combs at the 2024 grammys. like so many others, I was so profoundly moved.
“pickup” is less about tracy as a person and more about the impact her music had on me as I grew up. as a nod, I reference several of her studio albums in the lyrics.
and, of course, true to form, throughout college and grad school I would in fact play “fast car” while getting ready to go out for the evening!
pickup
she has a way with telling stories
about crossroads and matters of the heart
I’m just a kid in a toyota pickup
with the radio on
it’s those songs about a story, the story’s in the song
it pulls you in until you can’t help but sing along
it’s a blessing a benediction a prayer
for feeling like you belong
and when she sings bout a revolution
the whole world stops to turn right back around
so would we change for a brighter future,
changed by a song
it’s those songs about a story, the story’s in the song
it pulls you in until you can’t help but sing along
it’s a blessing a benediction a prayer
for feeling like you belong
I didn’t know I’d play the same strings as her
I didn’t know about that ring of keys
I didn’t know my voice would go deep like hers
but I listen when I hear something
it’s those songs about a story, the story’s in the song
it pulls you in until you can’t help but sing along
it’s a blessing a benediction a prayer
for feeling like you belong
and when I leave for the night
I always play the same song
the one that brings me back right
to 95 in the truck with my mom
I’m just a kid in a toyota pickup
I’m just a kid in a toyota pickup
I’m just a kid in a toyota pickup
with the radio on
k.a.castagno 202
recommended reading
tracy chapman wants to speak for herself by lindsay zoladz for the new york times. 2025.
tracy chapman’s black and white world by anthony de curtis for rolling stone. 1988.
tracy chapman: I sing because I like it. published in 1982 by the tufts daily.