The Ghost of Tom Joad (song)

"The Ghost of Tom Joad" is a folk rock song written by American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bruce Springsteen, released in November 1995 by Columbia Records as the first single from his eleventh studio album by the same name (1995). It was produced by Springsteen and Chuck Plotkin. 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 covered 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 Machine's Tom Morello as guest. In 2013, Springsteen re-recorded the track with Morello for his eighteenth studio album, High Hopes (2014).