Track 7 of The Ghost Of Tom Joad, 1995.
- The Ghost Of Tom Joad (1995)
- Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar, keyboard
Released on The Ghost Of Tom Joad (1995).
A live version is released on Columbia Records Radio Hour (US-only Promotional Tape, 1995) (recorded December 9, 1995).
Live versions are available on the following 4 official live downloads:
| BALBOA PARK | 3:15 | JOAD |
Note: Recorded sometime March–August 1995 at Thrill Hill West (Bruce's Los Angeles home studio). Springsteen solo.
Studio Sessions: The Ghost Of Tom Joad
Balboa Park |
He lay his blanket underneath the freeway as the evening sky grew dark
Took a sniff of toncho from his coke can, headed through Balboa Park
Where the men in their Mercedes come nightly to employ
In the cool San Diego evening the services of the border boys
He grew up near the Zona Norte with the hustlers and smugglers he hung out with
He swallowed their balloons of cocaine, brought 'em across the Twelfth Street strip
Sleeping in a shelter if the night got too cold
Running from the migra of the border patrol
Past the salvage yard 'cross the train tracks and in through the storm drain
They stretched their blankets out 'neath the freeway and each one took a name
There was X-man and Cochise, Little Spider his sneakers covered in river mud
They come north to California, end up with the poison in their blood
He did what he had to for the money, sometimes he sent home what he could spare
The rest went to high-top sneakers and toncho and jeans like the gavachos wear
One night the border patrol swept Twelfth Street, a big car come fast down the boulevard
Spider stood caught in its headlights, got hit and went down hard
Car sped away, Spider held his stomach, limped to his blanket 'neath the underpass
Lie there tasting his own blood on his tongue, closed his eyes and listened to the cars rushing by so fast
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