The Ghost of Tom Joad
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


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Men walking 'long the railroad tracks
Going someplace, there's no going back
Highway patrol choppers coming up over the ridge
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Shelter line stretching 'round the corner
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleeping in the cars in the southwest
No home, no job, no peace, no rest

Well the highway is alive tonight
But nobody's kidding nobody about where it goes
I'm sitting down here in the campfire light
Searching for the ghost of Tom Joad

He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preacher lights up a butt and he takes a drag
Waiting 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
Bathing in the city's aqueduct

Go!

Well the highway is alive tonight
Where it's headed everybody knows
I'm sitting down here in the campfire light
Waiting on the ghost of Tom Joad

Now Tom said, "Mom, wherever there's a cop beating a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there's a fight against the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me, Mom, I'll be there

Wherever somebody's fighting for a place to stand
Or a decent job or a helping hand
Wherever somebody's struggling to be free
Look in their eyes, Ma, and you'll see me"
Yeah!

The highway is alive tonight
Where it's headed everybody knows




I'm sitting down here in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad

Overall Meaning

The Ghost of Tom Joad is a poignant and powerful song by Bruce Springsteen that tells the story of a man who is searching for the spirit of Tom Joad, the singer of John Steinbeck's 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath. The lyrics convey a bleak and hopeless picture of the lives of the disenfranchised and the forgotten, the homeless and the jobless, who have been left behind by the mainstream society. The opening stanza sets the stage for the story, with men walking along the railroad tracks, heading nowhere, and highway patrol choppers hovering overhead. The scene is chaotic and dystopian, with the only respite being the campfire under the bridge where some people find solace from their sufferings.


As the song progresses, the singer reveals his desire to find the ghost of Tom Joad. He seeks Tom's guidance and wisdom in understanding and connecting with the marginalized people of society. He imagines Tom as a figure who represents the oppressed, the voiceless, and the powerless. Tom Joad is a symbol of hope and resilience, a kindred spirit who seeks justice and equality for all. The singer invokes Tom's spirit when he talks about fighting against police brutality, hunger, and inequality. He urges his mother to look into the eyes of those who are fighting for a better life and see Tom Joad's ghost there.


In summary, The Ghost of Tom Joad is a song that speaks to the human condition and the struggles of those who are marginalized and forgotten by society. It is a call to action and a reminder that the fight for justice and equality is ongoing and never-ending.


Line by Line Meaning

Men walking 'long the railroad tracks
People journeying on the railroad tracks


Going someplace, there's no going back
Moving forward, without the opportunity to turn back


Highway patrol choppers coming up over the ridge
Police helicopters appearing on the horizon


Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Soup being heated over a fire beneath a bridge


Shelter line stretching 'round the corner
The queue for emergency housing is long


Welcome to the new world order
Introducing a new global power structure


Families sleeping in the cars in the southwest
Families forced to sleep inside their cars in the southwestern region of the US


No home, no job, no peace, no rest
Poverty-stricken individuals lacking food or shelter, employment and well-being


Well, the highway is alive tonight
The roads are busy and full of activity


But nobody's kidding nobody about where it goes
People acknowledge the reality that the roads may lead to undesirable places


I'm sitting down here in the campfire light
The singer is sitting by the fire and reflecting on his surroundings


Searching for the ghost of Tom Joad
The artist is searching for the spirit of Tom Joad, a character from John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath


He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag
He extracts a religious book from his sleeping bag


Preacher lights up a butt and he takes a drag
A preacher effortlessly lights and smokes a cigarette


Waiting for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
Waiting for a time when the underprivileged will rise to the top and vice-versa


In a cardboard box 'neath the underpass
Lying in a cardboard box under a road bridge


You got a one-way ticket to the promised land
Advancing towards the promised land with no way to return


You got a hole in your belly and a gun in your hand
The individual is starving for food and armed with a weapon


Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock
Sleeping on a hard surface


Bathing in the city's aqueduct
Washing oneself in the city's water supply


Go!
Invitation to continue


Well, the highway is alive tonight
The roads are still busy and full of activity


Where it's headed everybody knows
The destination is common knowledge


I'm sitting down here in the campfire light
The artist is still sitting by the fire and reflecting on his surroundings


Waiting on the ghost of Tom Joad
Looking forward to encountering the spirit of Tom Joad


Now Tom said, 'Mom, wherever there's a cop beating a guy
Tom Joad's words to his mother, conveying the circumstances in which to look for him


Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
If there's a crying, hungry infant


Where there's a fight against the blood and hatred in the air
Wherever people are fighting against oppression and discrimination


Look for me, Mom, I'll be there
Tom Joad will be present in such situations


Wherever somebody's fighting for a place to stand
Where people have to fight for survival


Or a decent job, or a helping hand
To find employment or gain support


Wherever somebody's struggling to be free
If anyone's fighting for liberty


Look in their eyes, Ma, and you'll see me
Tom Joad will be personified in the eyes of the individuals fighting for freedom


Yeah!
Conveys enthusiasm


With the ghost of old Tom Joad
Together with the spirit of Tom Joad




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Designer Window Fashions

for those who don't know Tom Joad is a character from John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath...worth finding the movie or reading the book.

Osso Matthew

No one has yet been able to depict the struggles of the working poor as masterfully as Steinbeck had in his writings.

Janis

This song totally changed as i read "The Grapes of Wrath". Honestly i dont know who makes each other better, song or book.

Designer Window Fashions

@Janis Bruce nailed it ! I wish I had the book to re read...watched the movie again on Amazon

Homestake Models

Who wouldn't know this? Seriously, you'd have to live under a rock to not know about the "Grapes of Wrath"

Janis

@Homestake Models Yee, if your american. Other countries might not know about them.

33 More Replies...

marco guartatanga

The people who attended that concert never imagine how lucky the were to see Tom and Bruce together playing one of the best live performances

Adfree Opi

I was there! I it was 2009 or 2010 in Anaheim. I was living in San Diego at the time. This version just blew me away!

Thomas Collette

I recently learned that Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, and Murphy's Law once played a show together in NYC. I thought to myself that if ever a time machine was invented, that would be my first visit.

After seeing this, that show has become #2.

J

My mom made me go with to see Bruce at Wrigley Field chicago illinois back in like 2010 or 11 maybe idk. Little did I know Tom Morellp was there. Also EDDIE Vedder

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