The Ghost Of Tom Joad
View chords used in this chart
glad to see this song is in B minor, which allows you to play it on your D
major harmonica. (Nebrasks fans will undoubtedly have a D harmonica.) I
don't include fingerings for this song. There'll standard, as far as my
ear can discern.
Bm
Men walkin' long the railroad tracks
D Bm A
Goin' someplace there's no goin' back
Highway patrol choppers comin' up over the ridge
Bm A Bm
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Shelter line stretchin' round the corner
D Bm A
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin' in their cars in the Southwest
Bm A Bm
No home no job no peace no rest
G
The highway is alive tonight
D A Bm
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
A
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Bm A Bm
Searchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad
He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preachers lights up a butt and 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 a 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 a decent job or a helpin' hand
Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free
Look in their eyes Mom you'll see me."
Well the highway is alive tonight
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad
**************************************************************
Corrections are more than welcome. Enjoy!
Jason Groce - jgroce@mail.utexas.edu
Playwriting, Department of Theatre and Dance
**************************************************************
From: "Peter W. Norman" <pnorman@direct.ca>
Subject: Ghost of Tom Joad by Bruce Springsteen
The Ghost of Tom Joad
Bruce Springsteen
Posted and tabbed by Jason Norman
This is the title track of the album.
Bm
Men walkin long the railroad tracks
D D Dsus2 A
Goin someplace theres no goin back
A
High patrol choppers commin up over the ridge
D Dsus4 D Bm
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Shelter line stretchin round the corner
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin in their cars in the Southwest
No home no job no peace no rest
G
The highway is alive tonight
D Dsus4 D Bm
But it's kiddin nobody about where it goes
A
I'm sittin down here in the campfire light
D Dsus4 D Bm
Searchin for the ghost of Tom Joad
He pulls a prayer book out of his sleepin 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 a gun in your hand
Sleepin 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 theres a cop beatin a guy
Wherever a hungry new-born baby cries
Where theres a fight against the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me Mom I'll be there
Wherever theres somebody fightin for a place to stand
Or a decent job or a helpin hand
Wherever somebody's strugglin to be free
Look in there eyes Mom you'll see me"
Well the highway is alive tonight
But it's kiddin nobody about where it goes
I'm sittin down here in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad
How to play The Ghost Of Tom Joad
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is B. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.