7 thoughts on “Bruce Springsteen – The Ghost Of Tom Joad”
“The Ghost Of Tom Joad”
Men walkin’ ‘long the railroad tracks
Goin’ someplace there’s no goin’ back
Highway patrol choppers comin’ up over the ridge
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Shelter line stretchin’ ’round the corner
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin’ in their cars in the Southwest
No home no job no peace no rest
The highway is alive tonight
But nobody’s kiddin’ nobody about where it goes
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
Searchin’ for the ghost of Tom Joad
He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
Waitin’ for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
In a cardboard box ‘neath the underpass
Got a one-way ticket to the promised land
You got a hole in your belly and gun in your hand
Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock
Bathin’ in the city aqueduct
The highway is alive tonight
Where it’s headed everybody knows
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
Waitin’ on the ghost of Tom Joad
Now Tom said “Mom, wherever there’s a cop beatin’ a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there’s a fight ‘gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me Mom I’ll be there
Wherever there’s somebody fightin’ for a place to stand
Or decent job or a helpin’ hand
Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free
Look in their eyes Mom you’ll see me.”
Well the highway is alive tonight
But nobody’s kiddin’ nobody about where it goes
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad
Here’s a bit more about the version Henry/Admin posted:
“Published on Jan 16, 2014
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (feat. Tom Morello) – 10th track of his new studio album “High Hopes” realesed January 14th, 2014 on Columbia Records.
“The Ghost of Tom Joad” was the first single from the 1995 album of the same name and has been performed many times featuring Morello on guitar and trading vocals with Springsteen. The track had been covered by Morello’s former band Rage Against the Machine on a 1997 video, and later appeared on their album Renegades.”
This is the version, with harmonica, that I remember. (Thanks again Henry/Admin. I was trying to think of a song, that hadn’t been posted, to post today. You NAILED it. 🙂 Had forgotten Tom Joad.)
“The Ghost Of Tom Joad”
Men walkin’ ‘long the railroad tracks
Goin’ someplace there’s no goin’ back
Highway patrol choppers comin’ up over the ridge
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Shelter line stretchin’ ’round the corner
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin’ in their cars in the Southwest
No home no job no peace no rest
The highway is alive tonight
But nobody’s kiddin’ nobody about where it goes
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
Searchin’ for the ghost of Tom Joad
He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
Waitin’ for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
In a cardboard box ‘neath the underpass
Got a one-way ticket to the promised land
You got a hole in your belly and gun in your hand
Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock
Bathin’ in the city aqueduct
The highway is alive tonight
Where it’s headed everybody knows
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
Waitin’ on the ghost of Tom Joad
Now Tom said “Mom, wherever there’s a cop beatin’ a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there’s a fight ‘gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me Mom I’ll be there
Wherever there’s somebody fightin’ for a place to stand
Or decent job or a helpin’ hand
Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free
Look in their eyes Mom you’ll see me.”
Well the highway is alive tonight
But nobody’s kiddin’ nobody about where it goes
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad
Hey Angel. Thanks for putting up the words. These 70 year old ears don’t catch words as well as they once did. 😎
😉
Here’s a bit more about the version Henry/Admin posted:
“Published on Jan 16, 2014
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (feat. Tom Morello) – 10th track of his new studio album “High Hopes” realesed January 14th, 2014 on Columbia Records.
“The Ghost of Tom Joad” was the first single from the 1995 album of the same name and has been performed many times featuring Morello on guitar and trading vocals with Springsteen. The track had been covered by Morello’s former band Rage Against the Machine on a 1997 video, and later appeared on their album Renegades.”
Haven’t heard this one in while. Thank you. Very apropos.
🙂
This is the version, with harmonica, that I remember. (Thanks again Henry/Admin. I was trying to think of a song, that hadn’t been posted, to post today. You NAILED it. 🙂 Had forgotten Tom Joad.)
Aw hey Henry. Never heard this before. How prophetic! Thanks for posting it.
God bless you brother.