Tracy Chapman, Remember the Tinman | Wacky Wednesday

In the 29^th edition of Wacky Wednesday (2026), we break down the unique “Remember the Tinman,” performed by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman.  

Do you know what day it is? It is Wednesday, folks! Do you know what that means? Why, it is Wacky Wednesday! In the spirited column Wacky Wednesday, we analyze and explore unique, unusual, or wacky songs from different genres.  These songs can be new or old; the only requirement is that they ‘catch the ears’ because of their distinctiveness.  With the background established, in the 29^th edition of Wacky Wednesday (2026), we break down the unique “Remember the Tinman”, performed by Tracy Chapman. Wacky Wednesday vibes commence!

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman (b. 1964) wrote and recorded some incredible songs during her heyday – looking at you, “Fast Car” and “Give Me One Reason”. “Remember the Tinman” appears on the same album as the latter, the multi-platinum New Beginning, released in 1995.  The 10^th track was not a single nor the ‘big man on campus’ of New Beginning, but it shines, nonetheless. Chapman composed “Remember the Tinman.”  She produced it with Don Gehman.

“Remember the Tinman” thrives thanks to its simple, minimalist vibes. It’s magical thanks to modest instrumentation and a focus on Tracy Chapman’s expressive vocal performance, striking lyrics, and captivating storytelling. The record begins with gorgeous acoustic guitar accompaniment (Chapman). Filling out the production are bass (Andy Stoller) and background vocals (Stoller, Glenys Rogers, and Rock Deadrick) singing non-lyrically, selectively. Chapman’s tender performance is the sugar, honey, iced tea.  Her tone is nothing short of stunning.  Even so, it is the creative and thought-provoking songwriting that trumps all.  Cleverly, on this melodious masterpiece, she references the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz, who lacks a heart.  Lacks, huh? Not so fast! Peep the lyrics excerpted above, where Chapman encourages anyone who is heartless like the Tin Man to find and take their heart back! Backtracking, Chapman delivers some heartfelt lyrics about the heartlessness in the first verse: “Who stole your heart? Left you with a space / That no one and nothing can fill / Who stole your heart? Who took it away? / Knowing that without it you can’t live.” In the first chorus, Tin Man is personified: “Left you a hollow body / Skin and bone / What a robber? / What a thief?” The final verse is exceptional, where the poetry is, well, poetic!

“If you can tear down walls

Throw your armor away

Remove all roadblocks barricades

If you can forget there are bandits

And dragons to slay

And don’t forget that you defend an empty space.”

“Give Me One Reason” is the big cheese on New Beginning for good reason – it’s amazing. But I would implore you to “Remember the Tinman”.  It’s an awesome, striking song in its own right.

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Tracy Chapman » New Beginning  » Elektra Entertainment » 1995

Tracy Chapman, Remember the Tinman: Wacky Wednesday No. 29 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Elektra Entertainment; Vitaly Gorbachev from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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