Bruce Springsteen The Ghost of Tom Joad live in Studio

Amazing version

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[Jennifer Meeker]

For those debating whether this was originally a Boss song, a Rage song, or even a Guthrie song (which it was not), I wonder how many people notice that the 3rd verse was lifted directly from Joad's monologue in "The Grapes of Wrath." This song stands on its own, but has its greatest impact if you understand what Steinbeck was trying to tell us. Read TGOW and you will be astounded at how eerily relevant it is today--and that's why it is a classic. A deserving recipient of the Nobel Prize.

[draconius25]

I'm jealous of that harmonica.

[Matti Uusimies]

The people at times had a lot of religious beliefs. So that's how life goes. I don't mean to be a wise-ass. It's been damn tough, that's all.

[johnnyM809]

Just magnificent....as far as I am concerned Springsteen has no equal in the music world. The consumate songwriter of our time.

[artsfols]

Well he had all the right ideas regardless.

[Tommyd479]

It's lifted from John Ford's movie, not the book. The song is actually based on the movie version, as highlighted in his footnotes to the album.

[troymcclure99]

Huge amount of religious imagery in The Grapes of Wrath. Was first surprised when I heard that he was an atheist/agnostic.

[artsfols]

Jesus Christ said -

I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,

I was in prison and you came to me.’

Jesus said, ‘Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

[artsfols]

Woody Guthrie - (Tom Joad) Ever'body might be just one big soul Well it looks that a-way to me Everywhere that you look, in the day or night That's where I'm a-gonna be, Ma That's where I'm a-gonna be Wherever little children are hungry and cry Wherever people ain't free Wherever men are fightin' for their rights That's where I'm a-gonna be, Ma That's where I'm a-gonna be

[artsfols]

For the record -

John Steinbeck -

(Tom Joad in Grapes of Wrath) - Then I'll be all around in the dark - I'll be ever'where—wherever you look. Wherever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there... I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'—I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry and they know supper's ready. An' when our folk eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build—why, I'll be there.

[Dionysus Cain]

It's crazy that he sings this song and then he runs to peform for Obama's stupid ass and Obama is doing everything this song is talking about!

[rockandroller80]

This man is God