Song: The Ghost of Tom Joad
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Album: The Ghost of Tom Joad
Year: 1995
I've seen a few versions, but none have really had it written out the way in which it is played.
Chord Variants Used:
Am/G C/B
E A D G B e E A D G B E
------------- -------------
3 x 2 2 1 0 x 2 2 0 1 0
**Capo 2nd fret** (All chords relative to capo)
Intro(Studio Version): Am
Intro W/Harmonica*: Am F C C/B Am G Am
*Some live versions and his recording for "The People Speak"
Am Am/G Am
Man walkin long the railroad tracks
C G
Goin some place theres no going back
Highway patrol choppers comin up over the ridge
Am Am/G Am
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Am/G Am
Shelter line stretchin round the corner
C G
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin in their cars in the Southwest
Am Am/G Am
No home no job no peace no rest
F
The highway is alive tonight
C C/B Am
But nobodys kiddin nobody about where it goes
G
Im sittin down here in the campfire light
Am Am/G Am
Searchin for the ghost of Tom Joad
He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preacher lights up a butt and talks a drag
Waitin for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
In a cardboard book neath the underpass
Got a one-way ticket to the promised land
You got hole in your belly and a gun in your hand
Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock
Bathin in the city aquaeduct
The highway is alive tonight
Where its headed everybody knows
Im sittin down here in the campfire light
Waitin' on the ghost of Tom Joad
Harmonica Break : F C C/B Am G Am
Now Tom said: "Mom, wherever theres cop beatin a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where theres a fight gainst blood and hatred in the air
Look for me Mom Ill be there
Wherever theres somebody fightin for a place to stand
Or decent job or helping hand
Wherever somebodys strugglin to be free
Look in their eyes Mom youll see me"
Well the highway is alive tonight
But nobodys kiddin nobody about where it goes
Im sittin down here in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad
Outro: F C C/B Am G Am x2
Last time: Am Am/G Am
