Live 17 Nov 2009 version
Well, the screen door slams, Mary's dress sways
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
That's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone anymore
Don't you run back inside
Darling, you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore
Go 'head!
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
Ah
You ain't a beauty, but, hey, you're all right
Good job, very energetic!
Oh, that's all right with me
You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain for a savior to rise from these streets
Well, I'm no hero, that's understood
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey, what else can we do now
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
Well, the night's busted open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting down on the tracks
Oh, oh, come take my hand
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Whoa, oh, oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road, Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey, I know it's late, but we can make it if we run
Whoa, oh, oh, Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road
Well, I got this guitar and I learned how to make her talk
My car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride, it ain't free
I know you're lonely, there's words that I ain't spoken
But tonight, girl, we'll be free, all the promises will be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the streets
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
In the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines roaring on
But when you get to the porch, they're gone
On the wind; so Mary climb in
Come on!
It's a town full of losers, we're pulling out of here to win
The above lyrics are for the live 17 Nov 2009 performance of THUNDER ROAD at Carnegie Hall in New York City, NY, during the "Concert For Autism Speaks" event. The song was played in a solo acoustic arrangement. The parts in bold are sung by the crowd.
This was the fifth annual "Concert For Autism Speaks". It was hosted by David Gregory, Moderator of NBC's Meet The Press, and headlined by stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Bruce Springsteen opened for Seinfeld with a four-song solo acoustic set. Proceeds from "Concert For Autism Speaks" go toward the Autism Speaks organization which funds research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism, increases awareness of autism spectrum disorders, and advocates for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.
List of available versions of THUNDER ROAD on this website:
THUNDER ROAD [Album version]