Man walks along the railroad tracks He's goin' someplace, and there's no turnin' back The highway patrol chopper comin' up over the ridge Man sleeps by a campfire under the bridge The shelter line stretchin' around the corner Welcome to the New World Order Families sleepin' in their cars out in the Southwest No job, no home, no peace, no rest No rest!
The highway is alive tonight Nobody's foolin' nobody as to where it goes I'm sitting down here in the campfire light Searchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad
He pulls his prayer book out of his sleepin' bag The Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag He's waitin' for the time when the last shall be first and the first shall be last In a cardboard box 'neath the underpass With a one way ticket to the promised land With a hole in your belly and a gun in your hand Sleepin' on a pillow of solid rock Bathin' in the city's aquaduct
The highway is alive tonight Nobody's foolin' nobody as to where it goes I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light Waiting on the ghost of Tom Joad
Now Tom said, "Ma, wherever you seen a cop beatin' a guy Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries Wherever there's a fight against the blood and hatred in the air Look for me Ma, I'll be there Wherever somebody's strugglin' for a place to stand For a decent job or a helpin' hand Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free Look in their eyes, Ma, you'll see me" You'll see me (x8)
The highway is alive tonight Nobody's foolin' nobody as to where it goes I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light With the ghost of Tom Joad