The Ghost of Tom Joad

Men walkin' 'long the railroad tracks Goin' someplace and there's no going 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 car 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 sleeping bag Preacher lights up a butt and he 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, momm you'll see me" The highway is alive tonight But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light Waitin' for ghost of Tom Joad