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Live 29 Oct 2009 version
[Spoken intro:] The roots of rock roll all the way back through Bob Dylan, through Hank Williams, through Pete Seeger, through Woody Guthrie, through Leadbelly, to the fathers of folk music and people who were engaged in and who wrote about what was going on in the world around them. All of us here tonight are fortunate to be in this room. If you pick up the newspapers you see millions of people out of work, you see a blood fire over decent healthcare for our citizens and you see people struggling to hold on to their homes. If Woody Guthries were alive today, he'd have a lot to write about; high times on Wall Street and hard times on Main Street. Now to join my two grate guitar players Steve Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, I wanna bring out one of the greatest guitar players in rock and roll and a great voice. From Rage Against The Machine and The Nightwatchman, Tom Morello. Come on out Tom.
| Bruce Springsteen: | Men walking 'long the railroad tracks |
| Going someplace, there's no going back | |
| Highway patrol choppers coming up over the ridge | |
| Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge | |
| Shelter line stretching 'round the corner | |
| Welcome to the new world order | |
| Families sleeping in their cars in the southwest | |
| No home, no job, no peace, no rest | |
| Bruce Springsteen: | Well the highway is alive tonight |
| But nobody's kidding nobody about where it goes | |
| I'm sitting down here in the campfire light | |
| Searching for the ghost of Tom Joad | |
| Tom Morello: | He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag |
| Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag | |
| Waiting for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last | |
| In a cardboard box 'neath the underpass | |
| You 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 | |
| Bathing in the city's aqueduct | |
| Tom Morello: | Hey! |
| Springsteen and Morello: | Well the highway is alive tonight |
| Where it's headed everybody knows | |
| I'm sitting down here in the campfire light | |
| Waiting on the ghost of Tom Joad | |
| Tom Morello: | Hey! |
| Bruce Springsteen: | Now Tom said, "Mom, wherever there's a cop beating a guy |
| Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries | |
| Where there's a fight against the blood and hatred in the air | |
| Look for me, Mom, I'll be there | |
| Tom Morello: | Wherever somebody's fighting for a place to stand |
| For a decent job or a helping hand | |
| Wherever somebody's struggling to be free | |
| Look in their eyes, Ma, you'll see me" | |
| Yeah! | |
| Springsteen and Morello: | Well the highway is alive tonight |
| Where it's headed everybody knows | |
| I'm sitting down here in the campfire light | |
| Waiting on the ghost of Tom Joad | |
| Well the highway is alive tonight | |
| But nobody's kidding nobody about where it goes | |
| I'm sitting down here in the campfire light | |
| With the ghost of old Tom Joad | |
| With the ghost of old Tom Joad | |
| With the ghost of old Tom Joad |
[Spoken outro:] Tom Morello! Tommy Morello!
The above lyrics are for the live 29 Oct 2009 performance of THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, during the first of the two Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25th anniversary concerts. The song was performed as a duet with Tom Morello in a full-band rock arrangement similar to the 2014 album version. This performance of THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD aired on HBO a month later and was officially released on The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts album and home video in 2010.
The Rock And Roll Of Fame celebrated its 25th anniversary with a concert series over two days on 29 and 30 Oct 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. The celebration included a cast of music's biggest stars, including performances by Jerry Lee Lewis, U2, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Simon & Garfunkel, Dion DiMucci, Metallica, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Fergie, Mick Jagger, Lou Reed, Ray Davies, Ozzy Osbourne, Paul Simon, Jeff Beck, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Little Anthony & The Imperials, and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The first night's event was headlined by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band and ran almost six hours. Springsteen and the band closed the night with a 17-song set that included special guests John Fogerty, Darlene Love, Tom Morello, Sam Moore, Jackson Browne, Peter Wolf, and Billy Joel. Bruce Springsteen and Roy Bittan also appeared on two songs the following night during U2's set.
First night set list (29 Oct 2009):
| Song | Artist(s) | Broadcast and releases notes |
| WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOING ON | Jerry Lee Lewis | Not broadcast and not released |
| WOODSTOCK | Crosby, Stills & Nash | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| MARRAKECH EXPRESS | Crosby, Stills & Nash | Not broadcast and not released |
| ALMOST CUT MY HAIR | Crosby, Stills & Nash | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| LOVE HAS NO PRIDE | Crosby, Stills & Nash with Bonnie Raitt | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| MIDNIGHT RIDER | Crosby, Stills & Nash with Bonnie Raitt | Not broadcast and not released |
| THE PRETENDER | Crosby, Stills & Nash with Jackson Browne | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| MEXICO | Crosby, Stills & Nash with James Taylor | Not broadcast but included on all releases |
| LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH | Crosby, Stills & Nash with James Taylor | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| ROCK AND ROLL WOMAN | Crosby, Stills & Nash | Not broadcast and not released |
| TEACH YOUR CHILDREN | Crosby, Stills & Nash with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and James Taylor | Not broadcast but included on home video |
| DIAMONDS ON THE SOLES OF HER SHOES | Paul Simon | Not broadcast and not released |
| ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD | Paul Simon | Not broadcast but included on all releases |
| YOU CAN CALL ME AL | Paul Simon | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| THE WANDERER | Paul Simon with Dion DiMucci | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| HERE COMES THE SUN | Paul Simon with David Crosby and Graham Nash | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| LATE IN THE EVENING | Paul Simon | Not broadcast and not released |
| TWO PEOPLE IN THE WORLD | Little Anthony and the Imperials | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE | Simon & Garfunkel | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| MRS. ROBINSON / NOT FADE AWAY | Simon & Garfunkel | Not broadcast but included on all releases |
| THE BOXER | Simon & Garfunkel | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER | Simon & Garfunkel | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| CECILIA | Simon & Garfunkel | Not broadcast and not released |
| BLOWIN' IN THE WIND | Stevie Wonder | Not broadcast and not released |
| UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT) | Stevie Wonder | Not broadcast but included on home video |
| I WAS MADE TO LOVE YOU | Stevie Wonder | Not broadcast but included on home video |
| FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE | Stevie Wonder | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED I'M YOURS | Stevie Wonder | Not broadcast but included on all releases |
| BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN | Stevie Wonder | Not broadcast and not released |
| THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS | Stevie Wonder with Smokey Robinson | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| MERCY MERCY ME (THE ECOLOGY) | Stevie Wonder with John Legend | Not broadcast but included on all releases |
| THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL | Stevie Wonder with John Legend | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| THE THRILL IS GONE | Stevie Wonder with B.B. King | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| LIVING FOR THE CITY | Stevie Wonder | Not broadcast and not released |
| HIGHER GROUND / ROXANNE | Stevie Wonder with Sting | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| SUPERSTITION | Stevie Wonder with Jeff Beck | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | Not broadcast and not released |
| HOLD ON I'M COMIN' | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Sam Moore | Broadcast and included on home video |
| SOUL MAN | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Sam Moore | Broadcast and included on home video |
| THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Tom Morello | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| FORTUNATE SON | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with John Fogerty | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| PROUD MARY | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with John Fogerty | Not broadcast and not released |
| OH, PRETTY WOMAN | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with John Fogerty | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| JUNGLELAND | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| A FINE, FINE BOY | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Darlene Love | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| DA DOO RON RON | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Darlene Love | Not broadcast and not released |
| LONDON CALLING | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Tom Morello | Not broadcast but included on all releases |
| BADLANDS | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Tom Morello | Not broadcast and not released |
| YOU MAY BE RIGHT | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Billy Joel | Not broadcast and not released |
| ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Billy Joel | Not broadcast and not released |
| NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Billy Joel | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| BORN TO RUN | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Billy Joel | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) HIGHER AND HIGHER | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Darlene Love, John Fogerty, Tom Morello, Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, and Peter Wolf | Broadcast and included on all releases |
Second night set list (30 Oct 2009):
| Song | Artist(s) | Broadcast and releases notes |
| GREAT BALLS OF FIRE | Jerry Lee Lewis | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| BABY, I LOVE YOU | Aretha Franklin | Broadcast and included on home video |
| DON'T PLAY THAT SONG | Aretha Franklin | Broadcast and included on home video |
| MAKE THEM HEAR YOU | Aretha Franklin | Not broadcast and not released |
| CHAIN OF FOOLS | Aretha Franklin with Annie Lennox | Broadcast and included on home video |
| NEW YORK, NEW YORK | Aretha Franklin | Not broadcast and not released |
| THINK | Aretha Franklin with Lenny Kravitz | Not broadcast and not released |
| RESPECT | Aretha Franklin | Not broadcast and not released |
| DROWN IN MY OWN TEARS | Jeff Beck | Not broadcast and not released |
| PEOPLE GET READY | Jeff Beck with Sting | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| FREEWAY JAM | Jeff Beck | Not broadcast but included on home video |
| CAUSE WE'VE ENDED AS LOVERS | Jeff Beck | Not broadcast and not released |
| LET ME LOVE YOU BABY | Jeff Beck with Buddy Guy | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| BIG CLOCK | Jeff Beck | Not broadcast but included on home video |
| RICE PUDDING | Jeff Beck | Not broadcast but included on audio album |
| ROUGH BOY | Jeff Beck with Billy Gibbons | Not broadcast and not released |
| FOXY LADY | Jeff Beck with Billy Gibbons | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| A DAY IN THE LIFE | Jeff Beck | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS | Metallica | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| ONE | Metallica | Not broadcast and not released |
| TURN THE PAGE | Metallica | Not broadcast but included on all releases |
| SWEET JANE | Metallica with Lou Reed | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| WHITE LIGHT / WHITE HEAT | Metallica with Lou Reed | Not broadcast and not released |
| IRON MAN | Metallica with Ozzy Osbourne | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| PARANOID | Metallica with Ozzy Osbourne | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| YOU REALLY GOT ME | Metallica with Ray Davies | Not broadcast and not released |
| ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT | Metallica with Ray Davies | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| STONE COLD CRAZY | Metallica | Not broadcast and not released |
| ENTER SANDMAN | Metallica | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| VERTIGO | U2 | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| MAGNIFICENT | U2 | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| BECAUSE THE NIGHT | U2 with Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, and Roy Bittan | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR | U2 with Bruce Springsteen and Roy Bittan | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| MYSTERIOUS WAYS | U2 | Not broadcast but included on all releases |
| WHERE IS THE LOVE / ONE | U2 with The Black Eyed Peas | Not broadcast but included on all releases |
| GIMME SHELTER | U2 with Mick Jagger, Fergie, and will.i.am | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| STUCK IN A MOMENT YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF | U2 with Mick Jagger | Broadcast and included on all releases |
| BEAUTIFUL DAY | U2 | Broadcast and included on all releases |
The concerts originally aired on HBO on 28 Nov 2009 in a four-hour edited form consisting of 49 performances. The HBO broadcast was released in the U.S. only on The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts, both the home video (released on 28 Sep 2010) and the audio album (released on 02 Nov 2010).
The home video consists of the complete HBO broadcast plus 14 additional performances (54 in all). It was released on both DVD and Blu-ray formats (three and two discs respectively). The DVD set was readily available at retail stores but the Blu-ray set was available exclusively at Best Buy for the first 30 days. It was widely released on 02 Nov 2010.
The audio album contains 44 performances from the HBO broadcast plus 10 additional performances (55 in all). The performances on the 4-disc audio album were also simultaneously released on 02 Nov 2010 on two separate 2-disc sets, The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts Night 1 (containing performances from the first night) and The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts Night 2 (containing performances from the first night). While discs 3 and 4 on The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts 4-disc set contain the same tracks as on The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts Night 2, discs 1 and 2 contain six performances not available on The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts Night 1. These bonus performances are: MEXICO [Crosby, Stills & Nash with James Taylor], ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD [Paul Simon], MRS. ROBINSON / NOT FADE AWAY [Simon & Garfunkel], SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED I'M YOURS [Stevie Wonder], MERCY MERCY ME (THE ECOLOGY) [Stevie Wonder with John Legend], and LONDON CALLING [Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with Tom Morello].
List of available versions of THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD on this website:
THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD [1995 album version]
