Rage Against The Machine - The Ghost Of Tom Joad

Thursday, time for a cover.

"The Ghost Of Tom Joad" is a folk rock song written by Bruce Springsteen. It is the title track to his eleventh studio album, released in 1995. The character Tom Joad, from John Steinbeck's classic 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath, is mentioned in the title and narrative. Originally a quiet folk song, "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" has also been recorded by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and JUNIP. Springsteen himself has performed the song in a variety of arrangements, including with the E STREET BAND, and a live recording featuring RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINEs Tom Morello as guest. In 2013, Springsteen re-recorded the track with Morello for his eighteenth studio album, "High Hopes" (2014).

Besides The Grapes of Wrath, the song also takes inspiration from "The Ballad Of Tom Joad" by Woody Guthrie, which in turn was inspired by John Ford's film adaptation of Steinbeck's novel. Springsteen had in fact read the book, watched the film, and listened to the song, before writing "The Ghost Of Tom Joad", and the result was viewed as being true to Guthrie's tradition. Springsteen identified with 1930s-style social activism, and sought to give voice to the invisible and unheard, the destitute and the disenfranchised. His use of characterization was similarly influenced by Steinbeck and Ford.

Today's version was recorded by American rock band RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. Their release of the song was initially included as a 'free single' which shipped with an early release of the VHS version of their 1997 home video.

This rendition is performed in the band's usual rap rock style with live vocals echoed heavily. Other than the style of music, the most radical change was the 4/4 time signature which differs from Springsteen's measure of 3/4 meter, followed by three measures of 4/4. While thus radically different from the Springsteen original, it too was considered to be in line with the Guthrie tradition. It was a modest commercial success, in 1997 reaching number 35 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 34 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It thus became the group's second charted song, following "Bulls On Parade".

The 1998 single version differs slightly from one on the post-breakup "Renegades" album, as the band had re-recorded the song by then. Only a limited number of copies exist but this version would be later included in the "No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees" compilation album. The cover artwork is called "Police Riot" by Eric Drooker.

"The Ghost Of Tom Joad" made its Rage live debut on April 25, 1997, at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.

As part of the Nurses United protest against NATO Summit Chicago 2012, Morello and Tim McIlrath of RISE AGAINST played an electric version of "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" to a packed Daley Center Plaza crowd.

During's 2016's Make America Rage Again tour by PROPHETS OF RAGE, Tom Morello shared vocal duties with Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION.

The video for today's tune is filmed live at 7/24/1999 - Woodstock 99 East Stage - Rome, NY, enjoy today's cover.



More info @

Official Rage Against The Machine Web

Listen to ”Rage Against The Machine - The Ghost Of Tom Joad" on Spotify!

Follow tuneoftheday.blogspot.com on Spotify!