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