Am/G C/B
E A D G B e E A D G B E
E|-------------| -------------
3 x 2 2 1 0 x 2 2 0 1 0
**Capo 2nd fret** (All chords relative to capo)
[Intro]
(Studio Version): Am
Intro W/Harmonica*: Am F C C/B Am G Am
*Some live versions and his recording for "The People Speak"
[Verse]
Am Am/G Am
Man walkin‘ long the railroad tracks
C G
Goin‘ some place there’s no going back
Highway patrol choppers comin‘ up over the ridge
Am Am/G Am
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Am/G Am
Shelter line stretchin‘ round the corner
C G
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin‘ in their cars in the Southwest
Am Am/G Am
No home no job no peace no rest
[Chorus]
F
The highway is alive tonight
C C/B Am
But nobody’s kiddin‘ nobody about where it goes
G
I’m sittin‘ down here in the campfire light
Am Am/G Am
Searchin‘ for the ghost of Tom Joad
[Verse]
Am Am/G Am
He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag
C G
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
Waitin‘ for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
Am Am/G Am
In a cardboard box neath the underpass
Am/G Am Got a one-way ticket to the promised land C G You got hole in your belly and a gun in your hand Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock Am Am/G Am Bathin‘ in the city aquaeduct [Chorus] F The highway is alive tonight C C/B Am Where it’s headed everybody knows G I’m sittin‘ down here in the campfire light Am Am/G Am Waitin' on the ghost of Tom Joad [Harmonica Break] F C C/B Am G Am [Verse] Am Am/G Am Now Tom said: "Mom, wherever there’s cop beatin‘ a guy C G Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries Where there’s a fight gainst blood and hatred in the air Am Am/G Am Look for me Mom I’ll be there Am/G Am Wherever there’s somebody fightin‘ for a place to stand C G Or decent job or helping hand Wherever somebody’s strugglin‘ to be free Am Am/G Am Look in their eyes Mom you’ll see me" [Chorus] F Well the highway is alive tonight C C/B Am But nobody’s kiddin‘ nobody about where it goes G I’m sittin‘ down here in the campfire light Am Am/G Am With the ghost of old Tom Joad