Man walks along the railroad tracks
He's goin' someplace, and there's no turnin' back
The highway patrol [bad word]  up over the ridge
Man sleeps by a campfire under the bridge
The shelter line stretchin' around the corner [bad word] 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 [bad word]  for a place to stand
For a decent job or a helpin' hand
Wherever somebody's [bad word]  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