THUNDER ROAD

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


Info

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 -- True Kihnfessions
Greg Kihn -- True Kihnfessions

CD - Corazong (2000010) - Europe, 2000

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.

Other Official Releases

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.

Various artists -- Downbound Train
Various artists -- Downbound Train

CD EP - The Right Stuff (72438-58691-2-9) - USA, 1998

This is the second of two 5-track EPs released from the One Step Up / Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen various artists tribute album. THUNDER ROAD is one of the four non-album bonus tracks included on this EP. The song is performed by Greg Kihn.
Various artists -- The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen - Advance Sampler #2
Various artists -- The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen - Advance Sampler #2

MC EP - The Right Stuff (no catalog number) - USA, 1997

Advance sampler promoting the release of the One Step Up / Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen various artists tribute album. It contains the same tracks as the Downbound Train EP but with different track order.
Various artists -- Born To Run 2003 Volume Two
Various artists -- Born To Run 2003 Volume Two

CD - Uncut (2003 04B) - UK, 2003

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It's a free CD (volume 2 of 2) issued exclusively with the April 2003 issue of Uncut magazine.

Liner Notes

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.

Credits

Thanks Timmy Peterson (Terry at Greasy Lake) for this version's lyrics.

Available Versions

List of available versions of THUNDER ROAD on this website:

THUNDER ROAD [Album version]
THUNDER ROAD [Early draft]
THUNDER ROAD [Alternative version #1]
THUNDER ROAD [Alternative version #2]
THUNDER ROAD [Alternative version #3]
THUNDER ROAD [Alternative version #4]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 05 Feb 1975 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 20 Jul 1975 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 17 Oct 1975 (early show) version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 18 Oct 1975 (early show) version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 18 Nov 1975 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 31 Dec 1975 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 07 Apr 1976 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 25 Mar 1977 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 13 May 1977 (early show) version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 13 Sep 1977 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 19 Sep 1978 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 08 Dec 1978 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 21 Sep 1979 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 22 Sep 1979 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 03 Oct 1980 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 03 Jul 1981 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 08 Jun 1984 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 19 Nov 1984 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 27 Jul 1988 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 02 Sep 1988 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 16 Nov 1990 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 22 Sep 1992 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 28 Sep 1992 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 24 Jun 1993 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 15 Feb 1995 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 21 Feb 1995 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 05 Apr 1995 (Sony Music Studios) version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 09 Jul 1995 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 05 May 1997 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 22 May 1997 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 31 Jan 1998 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 23 Oct 1999 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 27 Jun 2000 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 19 Oct 2001 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 29 Aug 2002 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 04 Oct 2002 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 16 Oct 2002 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 19 Feb 2003 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 29 Apr 2003 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 22 Jun 2003 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 01 Nov 2004 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 04 Apr 2005 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 12 Oct 2005 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 07 Nov 2007 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 09 Nov 2007 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 14 Mar 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 07 May 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 18 Jun 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 23 Aug 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 04 Oct 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 16 Oct 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 30 May 2009 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 17 Nov 2009 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 22 Nov 2009 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 04 Nov 2010 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 15 Jan 2011 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 03 Nov 2011 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 04 Nov 2011 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 14 Jan 2012 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 09 Mar 2012 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 06 Apr 2012 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 07 Nov 2016 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live July 2018 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Greg Kihn's cover version]
THUNDER ROAD [Badly Drawn Boy's cover version]
THUNDER ROAD [Cowboy Junkies' cover version]
THUNDER ROAD [Kevin Rowland's cover version]

Page last updated: 18 Aug 2016