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Luke Combs says he wanted to ‘get into a hole’ after Tracy Chapman discovered the ‘Fast Car’ bug

Posted on by Bobb
Luke Combs says he wanted to ‘get into a hole’ after Tracy Chapman discovered the ‘Fast Car’ bug

Luke Combs has revealed a lyrical mistake that Tracy Chapman warned him about in his remix of her song “Fast Car.”

The 34-year-old country singer revealed the mistake to his audience during a recent concert.

He explained that when he originally recorded his cover, he sang one of the last lines: “Still gotta make a decision.” However, when he talked to Chapman, he learned that the correct phrase was actually: “We have to make a decision.”

“That was the first time I realized I had recorded a song wrong. She’s the one who told me that,” Combs said, as seen in video taken by concertgoers. “Because I remember when she said that, I wanted to crawl into a hole.”

However, Combs clarified that Chapman did not upset him over the mistake.

“Fortunately, she handled it brilliantly. And I think about it every time I sing this song, and I will think about it every time I sing this song for the rest of my life,” he continued. “But she was so cool about it.”

Luke Combs reveals how he discovered his mistake in Tracy Chapman's cover of
Luke Combs reveals how he discovered his mistake in Tracy Chapman’s cover of “Fast Car” (Getty Images for Record A)

He explained that he was going to get better during a live performance of the song.

“So the version you know is, ‘There’s still a decision to be made.’ Not words. These are simply not the right words. I made it up in my head,” Combs added. “So tonight I’ll probably sing, ‘We’ve got to make a decision.’ Because Tracy Chapman told me to, and damn it, I’ll do it.”

Although Chapman’s tune was originally released in 1988, Combs’ cover of “Fast Car” won Song of the Year at the 2023 Country Music Awards. Chapman received flowers at the event in Nashville along with host Sarah Evans and the country musician. Bill Anderson reads a statement on her behalf.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t join you all tonight. “My song is honored to receive new recognition after 35 years of its debut,” she wrote in her statement. “Thank you CMA and a special thank you to Luke and all the Fast Car fans.”

The win made Chapman the first black artist to take home the Song of the Year award. Additionally, “Fast Car” also earned Combs an award as his cover was named single of the year.

Combs first covered the song as the second single from his album. I’m getting oldwhich will be released in 2023. Giving Chapman’s song a second wind, the cover also became a radio hit and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 last year.

During the Grammy Awards in February, Combs also performed “Fast Car” and was joined on stage by Chapman.