Em   (022000)
G    (320001)
C    (x32010)
D/F# (200232)

[Intro] Em, G, D/F#, Em, C, G, Em, D/F#

[Verse 1]
Em
Men walkin' 'long the railroad tracks
G                                D/F#
Goin' someplace there's no goin' back

Highway patrol choppers comin' up over the ridge
Em
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge

Shelter line stretchin' round the corner
G                        D/F#
Welcome to the new world order

Families sleepin' in their cars in the southwest
Em
No home no job no peace no rest

[Chorus]
C
The highway is alive tonight
G                                          Em
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
D/F#
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Em
Searchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad

[Verse 2]
Em
He pulls prayer book out of his sleeping bag
G                                     D/F#
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag

Waitin' for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
Em
In a cardboard box 'neath the underpass

Got a one-way ticket to the promised land
G                                            D/F#   
You got a hole in your belly and gun in your hand

Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock
Em
Bathin' in the city aqueduct

[Chorus]
C
The highway is alive tonight
G                                          Em
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
D/F#
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Em
Searchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad

[Band Interlude] C,G,Em,D/F#,Em :|

[Verse 3]
Em
Now Tom said "Mom, wherever there's a cop beatin' a guy
G                              D/F#
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries

Where there's a fight 'gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Em
Look for me Mom I'll be there

Wherever there's somebody fightin' for a place to stand
G                          D/F#
Or decent job or a helpin' hand

Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free
Em
Look in their eyes Mom you'll see me."

[Chorus]
C
The highway is alive tonight
G                                          Em
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
D/F#
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Em
Searchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad

[Outro]
C,G,Em,D/F#,Em :| G,C,Em