Tomjoad

Bruce Springsteen

THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD (1995)

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

Well 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 sleepin’ 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 You got a one way ticket to the promised land You got a hole in your belly and a gun in your hand Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock Bathin’ in the city’s aqueduct

The highway is alive tonight But 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 somebody’s fightin’ for a place to stand Or a decent job or a helpin’ hand. Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free, Look in their eyes ma you’ll see me.”

Well the highway is alive tonight Where it’s headed everybody knows I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light With the ghost of old Tom Joad

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

With the ghost of old Tom Joad With the ghost of old Tom Joad