Tom Joad

Tom Joad
((Adapted from: John Hardy (Buell Kazee) - 1927))
Composer(s): Traditional - Woody Guthrie
Performer(s): Woody Guthrie - 1940
and multiple other artists



Tom Joad got out of the old McAlester Pen
There he got his parole
After four long years on a man killing charge
Tom Joad come a walking down the road, poor boy
Tom Joad come a walking down the road

Tom Joad he met a truck driving man
There he caught him a ride He said
"I just got loose from McAlester's Pen On a charge called Homicide, A charge called Homicide"

That truck rolled away in a cloud of dust
Tommy turned his face toward home
He met Preacher Casey and they had a little drink
But they found that his family they was gone
He found that his family they was gone
He found his mother's old fashion shoe
Found his daddy's hat
And he found little Muley and Muley said
"They've been tractored out by the cats
They've been tractored out by the cats"

Tom Joad walked down to the neighbors farm
Found his family
They took Preacher Casey and loaded in a car
And his mother said "We got to git away"
His mother said 'We got to get away"

Now the twelve of the Joads made a mighty heavy load
But Grandpa Joad did cry
He picked up a handful of land in his hand
Said: "I'm stayin' with the farm till I die
Yes, I'm stayin' with my farm till I die"

They fed him short ribs and coffee and soothing syrup
And Grandpa Joad did die
They buried Grandpa Joad by the side of the road
Buried Grandma on the California side
They buried Grandma on the California side

They stood on a Mountain and they looked to the West
And it looked like the promised land
That bright green valley with a river running through
There was work for every single hand, they thought
There was work for every single hand
The Joads rolled away to Jungle Camp
There they cooked a stew
And the hungry little kids of the Jungle Camp Said
"We'd like to have some too"
Said: "We'd like to have some too"

Now a Deputy Sheriff fired loose at a man
Shot a woman in the back
Before he could take his aim again
Preacher Casey dropped him in his track
Preacher Casey dropped him in his track

They handcuffed Casey and they took him to Jail
And then he got away
And he met Tom Joad on the old river bridge
And these few words he did say, poor boy
These few words he did say

"I preached for the Lord a mighty long time
Preached about the rich and the poor
Us workin' folks got to all get together
'Cause we ain't got a chance anymore
We ain't got a chance anymore"

The Deputies come and Tom and Casey run
To the bridge where the water run down
But the vigilante they hit Casey with a club
They laid Preacher Casey on the ground
They laid Preacher Casey on the ground

Tom Joad he grabbed that Deputy's club
Hit him over the head
Tom Joad took flight in the dark rainy night
A Deputy and a Preacher lying dead, two men
A Deputy and a Preacher lying dead

Tom run back where his mother was asleep
He woke her up out of bed
Then he kissed goodbye to the mother that he loved
Said what Preacher Casey said, Tom Joad
He said what Preacher Casey said

"Ever'body might be just one big soul
Well it looks that a way to me
Everywhere that you look in the day or night
That's where I'm gonna be, Ma
That's where I'm gonna be

Wherever little children are hungry and cry
Wherever people ain't free
Wherever men are fightin' for their rights
That's where I'm gonna be, Ma
That's where I'm a gonna be