Greg Kihn's cover version
The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison sang for the lonely
Hey that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me on again I just can't face myself alone again
Hey don't run back and hide, darling you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking maybe we ain't that young anymore
Have a little faith there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty but hey you're alright
Ooh and that's alright with me
Hey!
You can hide 'neath the covers and study your pain
Make crosses for your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain for a saviour to raise 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
Baby what else can we do now
Except roll down the window and let wind blow back your hair
Well the night's busted open, these two lanes can take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings for some wheels
Climb in back heaven's waiting on down the tracks
And it's ooh-oh come take my hand
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Ooh-oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road
It's lying out there like a killer in the sun
I know it's late but we can make it if we run
Ooh-oh thunder road, sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road
Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
From the front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride ain't free
I know you're lonely for the words I ain't spoken
Tonight we'll be free, all the promises are 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 street
The graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
From your room you hear their engines roar on
But when you get to the porch they're gone on the wind, so Mary climb right in
It's a town full of losers, I'm getting out of here to win
The above lyrics are for Greg Kihn's cover version of THUNDER ROAD. It was released on his 2000 compilation album True Kihnfessions.
Greg Kihn's version of THUNDER ROAD has just some minor lyrics variations to Springsteen's. The song features Dusty Wright on vocals and Vox 12-string guitar, Steve Wright on bass and vocals, Ry Kihn on lead guitar, Doug Clifford on drums and percussion, and Tim Gorman on Hammond B3 organ. It was produced and engineered by John Cuniberti and recorded at Coast Recorders in San Francisco, CA.
Greg Kihn also recorded Springsteen's FOR YOU in 1977 and the previously unreleased RENDEZVOUS in 1979.
In addition to its release on True Kihnfessions, Greg Kihn's cover of THUNDER ROAD was also included on some various artists Bruce Springsteen tribute albums.
Greg Kihn wrote in the liner notes of the Downbound Train EP:
For the past few years I've strayed from rock and roll, I'm ashamed to say. I've been writing novels, doing radio, making solo acoustic albums, but when I heard about this Bruce compilation I couldn't wait to get involved. His music is part of me. I'd done "For You" and "Rendezvous" earlier in my career and I'd always maintained a casual, friendly relationship with Bruce. Let me tell you something — Bruce is the real thing. No hype, no bullshit. He writes from the heart in the great songwriter's tradition. He is a genuinely nice guy.
Naturally I wanted to do a good job, so I put together a killer band, including Doug "Cosmo" Clifford from Creedence, Tim Gorman (who works for the Stones, replacing the irreplaceable Ian Stewart), my son Ry on lead guitar (who graduated a Jazz Guitar Major from Cal Arts), and my life-long musical partner Steve Wright on bass and vocals. With John Cuniberti producing, and surrounded by people I love. "Thunder Road" seemed to take on a life of its own. It's the story of my life, maybe of all our lives. Hope you like it.
Thanks Timmy Peterson (Terry at Greasy Lake) for this version's lyrics.
List of available versions of THUNDER ROAD on this website:
THUNDER ROAD [Album version]
