Springsteen and "The Ghost of Tom Joad"

"Celebrating Bruce Springsteen’s dark folk masterpiece
20 years of The Ghost Of Tom Joad"
by Peter Hart

A great deal of Springsteen background is offered here.



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