THUNDER ROAD

Album version

The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside, darling you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright
Oh and that's alright with me

You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain for a saviour to rise from these streets
Well now 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
Hey what else can we do now
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
Well the night's bustin' open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting down on the tracks

Oh oh come take my hand
Riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh oh oh oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey I know it's late, we can make it if we run
Oh oh oh 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 your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride it ain't free
And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken
Tonight we'll be free, all the promises will be 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
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines roaring on
But when you get to the porch they're gone on the wind, so Mary climb in
It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win

Page last updated: 24 Feb 2009

Music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, opener of his 1975 album Born To Run. This fans favourite is a classic rock staple, and is consistently ranked as one of Springsteen's greatest songs, and one of the top rock songs of all time. In 2004, it was ranked #1 in WXPN's list of "The 885 All-Time Greatest Songs". Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time placed it at #86. The song came in at #226 in Q's list of the "1001 Greatest Songs Ever" in 2003, in which they described the song as "best for pleading on the porch." It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1998. Live, it has been performed many different ways: full-band, stripped down, guitar solo, piano solo, slowed down, etc...

Julia Roberts, when asked which song lyric described her most accurately, chose THUNDER ROAD's "You ain't a beauty, but hey, you're alright." In an Esquire interview, when asked some top ten questions, Mary-Louise Parker notes THUNDER ROAD as a song that everyone must know the lyrics to. The song is featured in the book 31 Songs by British author Nick Hornby.

The song underwent considerable evolution as it was written, with an early version titled WINGS FOR WHEELS, and later versions titled THUNDER ROAD. The title phrase "Thunder Road" doesn't occur anywhere in the early version of the song, and is only used a couple of times in the middle section of the newer versions.

During an Apr 1995 interview with Australian rock journalist Ian 'Molly' Meldrum held in Los Angeles, Springsteen is asked about a song called GLORY ROAD, which Meldrum thinks it was a very early draft of THUNDER ROAD. Bruce, of course, was not expecting this kind of very specific question from him. He appears bemused at first by the question, but then seems to have a recollection of the title and says, "now that title sound familiar, [...] you know, you might be right". He adds later that he's "not sure if that ['Thunder Road'] started out as 'Glory Road'."

Springsteen took the "Thunder Road" title from the Robert Mitchum 1958 movie Thunder Road [movie info below]. He declared that he was somehow inspired from the movie even if, as he says, "I never saw the movie, I only saw the poster in the lobby of the theater" (check out the spoken intro for the live 19 Sep 1978 version). However, it is evidenced in his 1995 interview with Molly Meldrum that he did see the movie later on. He talks briefly about the movie, and adds that he "was a big Robert Mitchum fan, [...] I wanted that band to sound like thunder, I wanted [...] to feel that sort of power."

The lyrics "We got one last chance to make it real / To trade in these wings on some wheels" echo Springsteen's make-it-or-break-it proposition. His first two albums had sold poorly (less than 90,000 copies), and the success of his third album Born To Run was crucial because Columbia Records was no longer enamored with the highly touted Springsteen.

Bruce Springsteen has always stated that Roy Orbison had a huge impact on his music. Orbison's influence is evident in many Springsteen songs -- especially on the Born To Run album. In the first verse of THUNDER ROAD, he even name-checks him: "Roy Orbison singing for the lonely / Hey that's me and I want you only". This line seems to be a reference to Orbison's 1960 hit, ONLY THE LONELY. Springsteen declares in his 1995 interview with Molly Meldrum that he "tried to sing really full voiced and out of my chest because I was fanatically listening to Roy Orbison at the time, and his vocal power, there will never be a voice like that."

THE PROMISE (written in 1976 and considered for the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album) explicitly mentions THUNDER ROAD by name but reveals a far more pessimistic outlook on the narrator's life and future. He would later mention that when he wrote it, he was reflecting on "the flip side of 'Thunder Road'". Check out the Q&A transcript from the live 19 Feb 2003 version for more details.

The first known appearance of the song was on 05 Feb 1975 at The Main Point, Bryn Mawr, PA, during a benefit show held for the club. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were the sole act on the bill, and the show was MC'd by DJ Ed Sciaky and was broadcast by WMMR-FM on the same night, with an about-two-hour delay. This was the earliest known performance of THUNDER ROAD. The song was still a work-in-progress, with an early title -- WINGS FOR WHEELS -- and lyrics varying significantly from the album's version. Check out the live 05 Feb 1975 version.

The song was then played during the remainder of The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle Tour (Feb-Mar 1975). Most of that period's setlists are either unknown or partial, and only 3 performances of the song are known/confirmed:

• 07 Feb 1975 at Widener College, Chester, PA (video footage of which is circulating)
• 19 Feb 1975 at Penn State University, University Park, PA (no circulating audio)
• 09 Mar 1975 at Constitution Hall, Washington, DC (no circulating audio - final gig of the tour)

When the lengthy The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle Tour closed in March 1975, the recording sessions for the Born To Run album took place at The Record Plant, New York City, NY, between March and July 1975. Note that the Born To Run sessions started in 1974 at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, NY, (Mike Appel's studio of choice) but the new 1975 location was advised by Springsteen's friend and future manager Jon Landau. All tracks on the Born To Run album -- except the title tracks -- were recorded during these Mar-Jul 1975 sessions.

The full-band version of THUNDER ROAD that was supposed initially intended to be released on Born To Run album was more than seven minutes long. Jon Landau suggested shrinking it to about four, and moving Clarence Clemons's saxophone solo from the middle of the song to the end. Springsteen was so pleased with the final result that he hired Landau as co-producer of the album the next day. Nick Hasted writes in the November 2005 issue of Uncut magazine that "Landau fixed an edit of an early 'Thunder Road'. By April, he was co-producer, and signed up for two per cent of whatever the record made." This might indicate that THUNDER ROAD was one of the earliest recordings from the Mar-Jul 1975 sessions, and most probably recorded in the Mar-Apr 1975 period.

There are 5 studio versions now in circulation, all recorded at The Record Plant:

• Album's version: The official version that was released on the Born To Run album.
• Alternate version #1: A solo acoustic version.
• Alternate version #2: A base rhythm track with guide vocal, and with no organ or sax.
• Alternate version #3: More developed than alternate version #2, and includes sax.
• Alternate version #4: Features a very long instrumental outro with more sax.

Alternate version #1, alternate version #3, and alternate version #4 have circulated for a long time on several bootlegs while alternate version #2 appeared for the first time in late 2005 on satellite radio channel Sirius, as part of its special "E Street Radio" 3-months program. It should also be noted that there's a good chance that alternate version #4 is the same recording as the album's version, but simply a different mix. Check out each of these 4 versions for more details.

The name of the girl mentioned at the beginning of the song was changed several times. It had been "Angelina" (as in the live 05 Feb 1975 version), "Chrissie" (as in alternate version #1 and alternate version #3), and "Christina" (as in alternate version #2) before Springsteen settled on "Mary". In a Jan 1999 interview for Mojo magazine, Mark Hagen asks Springsteen if Mary of THUNDER ROAD is "the same one who crops up in The River and other places." Springsteen answers: "I couldn't say. Sometimes a name just comes out, I suppose there's all the interconnections that the songs make happen intentionally and unintentionally. A lot of the time you don't know a lot of what you're doing yourself."

Springsteen envisioned Born To Run as a "day in the life" concept album, and at some point, THUNDER ROAD was slated to appear twice, opening the album in an acoustic arrangement and closing it in a full-band take.

The album's version opens with a quiet piano and harmonica introduction, meant, as Springsteen said years later in the Wings For Wheels documentary, as a welcoming to both the track and the album, a signifier that something was about to happen. Eschewing a traditional verse-and-chorus structure, the song's arrangement gradually ramps up in instrumentation, tempo, and intensity. Finally, after the closing line there is a saxophone-and-piano duet in the instrumental coda. In his book Born Ton Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story, Dave Marsh writes that "'Thunder Road' is a statement of purpose; in its way, it encapsulates the whole story of the album."

The Born To Run album was commercially released on 01 Sep 1975. Note that a small quantity of blank label, advanced promo copies (called "Script Covers") were issued to VIPs about 12 Aug 1975, and normal promo copies were sent to radio stations on or about 24 Aug 1975.

The Born To Run Tour kicked off on 20 Jul 1975 at the Palace Theater, Providence, RI, (the live debut of Miami Steve as a member of the E Street Band) and this was the first performance of THUNDER ROAD after Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band finished recording the album and hit the road. The song was performed very frequently during the tour:

• During the 1st leg of the Born To Run Tour (81 known dates: Jul-Dec 1975), THUNDER ROAD is confirmed to have been played on 50 shows, and absent on 9. Note that many setlists from this period are incomplete or unknown, and therefore the remaining 22 performances remain unconfirmed.
• During the 2nd leg of the Born To Run Tour (35 known dates: Mar-May 1976, including the 10 Apr 1976 benefit concert at Choate School, Wallingford, CT), THUNDER ROAD is confirmed to have been played on 19 shows. Note that many setlists from this period are incomplete or unknown, and therefore the remaining 16 performances remain unconfirmed. The song must've been a stable number during that 2nd leg. That portion of the tour would soon be nicknamed by the road crew as the "Chicken Scratch Tour" because of the high proportion of secondary market, southern state locations.

THUNDER ROAD was played full-band since the 20 Jul 1975 opening night of the tour, but it took its solo incarnation from the 13 Aug 1975 early show at the Bottom Line, New York City, NY, till the end of the 1st leg. During the second leg, it was played full-band again.

The 18 Oct 1975 (early show) performance at The Roxy, Los Angeles, CA, was officially released on the Live/1975-85 box set in Nov 1986. Check out the live 18 Oct 1975 version for more details. Audio and video for the complete 18 Nov 1975 show at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, was released in 2005 on the Hammersmith Odeon, London '75 CD and DVD. Check out the live 18 Nov 1975 version for more details.

Despite the marvelous reception received by both Born To Run and the tour which followed, the relationship between Bruce Springsteen and his now former manager and producer Mike Appel was deteriorating. In July 1976 the storm broke; Mike Appel wrote to Springsteen saying that he would not allow Jon Landau (Springsteen's friend and co-producer of Born To Run) to produce the next album, citing a particular paragraph from their original agreement. Bruce replied on 27 Jul 1976 by firing manager Mike Appel and suing him and his management company Laurel Canyon Ltd. in Federal Court in Manhattan, claiming fraud, breach of trust, and undue influence. Appel countersued on 29 Jul 1976 in New York State Supreme Court, asking the court to prohibit Springsteen and Jon Landau from working together in studio. Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band were slated to enter the studio that year for the recording of a new album, except that on 15 Sep 1976 the judge in the lawsuits case ruled that Springsteen was enjoined from any further recording with Columbia Records until Appel's suit was resolved. This would drag for about a year.

Meanwhile, Springsteen continued gigging, and in the process broke his self-imposed rule of not playing the larger arenas. This was basically because he was not able to put a record out, and it was the only way his fans would be able to hear him at all. THUNDER ROAD was played (full-band) during every night of that "Lawsuit Tour":

• During the 1st leg of the tour (29 known dates, between August and November 1976), THUNDER ROAD is confirmed to have been played on 27 shows. Note that some setlists from this period are incomplete or unknown, and therefore the remaining 2 performances remain unconfirmed. The song must've been a stable number during that 1st leg.
• During the 2nd leg of the tour (33 known dates, between February and March 1977), THUNDER ROAD is confirmed to have been played on 28 shows. Note that some setlists from this period are incomplete or unknown, and therefore the remaining 5 performances remain unconfirmed. The song must've been a stable number during that 2nd leg.

The last show of the "Lawsuit Tour" was on 25 Mar 1977 at the Music Hall, Boston, MA, but the suit dragged until late-May 1977. During that time, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes were on tour. On 3 gigs that were originally scheduled as regular Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes shows, Southside was ill and he couldn't perform. E Street Band member Steve Van Zandt came to the rescue by organizing "The Asbury Park All-Star Revue", a combination of The Asbury Jukes, The E Street Band, Ronnie Spector, and Bruce Springsteen. Van Zandt was the lead vocalist with Bruce on guitar/background vocals on most numbers, with the exception of a few tracks, including THUNDER ROAD which was performed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. These 3 gigs are:

• 12 May 1977 at Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank, NJ
• 13 May 1977 early show at Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank, NJ
• 13 May 1977 late show at Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank, NJ

On 28 May 1977, the Springsteen-Apple lawsuits reached a final settlement and finally Springsteen was able to get into a studio and record. Recording sessions for the next album began in early June 1977, but Springsteen kept making guest appearances at other artists' gigs, and jamming with Southside Johnny at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ. On 13 Sep 1977, he performed a set of 5 songs (including THUNDER ROAD) with Southside Johnny and the E Street Band at the club. This was during a benefit show for Bob Campanell, member of The Shakes, who were a house band at the club at the time.

The actual recording sessions for Darkness On The Edge Of Town were completed by early January 1978, and the mixing sessions dragged until early April. Bruce and the band start preparing for the upcoming tour, and the only known/confirmed pre-tour rehearsal was on 19 May 1978 at the Paramount Theater, Asbury Park, NJ. THUNDER ROAD was one of the numbers performed during that private rehearsal (audience tape available).

The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour kicked-off on 23 May 1978 in Buffalo, and THUNDER ROAD was performed every night. It should be noted that a few setlists from this period are incomplete or unknown, and the tour consisted of 111 known dates. The song is confirmed to be played on 100 shows, and the remaining 11 performances of the tour remain unconfirmed. The song must've been a stable number during the whole tour. The 19 Sep 1978 show at the Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ, has what many consider to be the best full-band THUNDER ROAD ever. Check out the live 19 Sep 1978 version.

On 03 Jun 1979, Bruce and members of the E Street Band joined Ricky Lee Jones and Boz Scaggs for a set of songs (that included THUNDER ROAD) at The Whisky in Los Angeles, CA, during a wedding party for Springsteen's lighting director Marc Brinkman. Taking a break from The River recording sessions, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed on two of the MUSE benefits shows, 21 and 22 Sep 1979, and THUNDER ROAD was played on both nights. Video footage for the song from the second night was included on the 1980 theatrical movie release No Nukes, which was later available on home video as well. It was also also included on Springsteen's The Complete Video Anthology / 1978-2000 DVD in 2001. Check out the live 22 Sep 1979 version for more details.

The River Tour rehearsals were conducted in a private studio, Clare Brothers Audio, Lititz, PA, in September 1980. Some of these rehearsals were filmed (including one take of THUNDER ROAD) and the video footage is circulating among collectors. The tour opened on 03 Oct 1980 at the University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, and THUNDER ROAD was played twice that night; the second being the show closer on which Bob Seger joined Springsteen and the E Street Band onstage. The song was performed on each night of The River Tour (including the 20 Aug 1981 "A Night For The Vietnam Veteran" benefit concert) and missing only two shows, both in May 1981 in Europe (the 08 May 1981 Stockholm show and the 13 May 1981 Manchester show).

Setlists for the Born In The USA Tour rehearsals are unknown, but THUNDER ROAD was played on 08 Jun 1984 at the Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, during a warm up gig for the tour. That gig was the first for Nils Lofgren with the E Street Band. The tour kicked off on 29 Jun 1984 in St. Paul, and the song was performed every night, missing only one show early in the tour (the 21 Jul 1984 show in Montreal).

The Live 1975-85 box set was released on 10 Nov 1986, and included the 18 Oct 1975 (early show) performance of THUNDER ROAD from The Roxy, Los Angeles, CA. Check out the live 18 Oct 1975 version for more details.

THUNDER ROAD was played only twice during the Tunnel Of Love Express Tour:

• 27 Jul 1988 at Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway
• 03 Aug 1988 at Nou Camp, Barcelona, Spain (tour finale)

Note that the song is reported to be have been sound-checked earlier in the tour, on 09 May 1988 at Met Center, Minneapolis, MN, but not played during the show.

On the Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour (02 Sep 1988 to 15 Oct 1988), THUNDER ROAD was played a total of 13 times. It should be noted that the setlist of the 14 Oct 1988 show at Estadio Mundialista Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina, is unknown, and it is assumed that the song was not played on that date since it was not on any of the other setlists of the October part of the tour.

THUNDER ROAD was played during both the acoustic Christic Institute benefit shows, on 16 and 17 Nov 1990 at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA. Check out the live 16 Nov 1990 version for more details. It was very frequently played (in its acoustic form) during the Human Touch / Lucky Town Tour, making it on the setlist of 96 shows out of 102. The song was played off-tour on:

• 22 Sep 1992 at Warner Hollywood Studios, Los Angeles, CA, during the MTV Unplugged taping. The show was released (in incomplete form) on the In Concert / MTV Plugged album and home video. Check out the live 22 Sep 1992 version for more details.
• 24 Jun 1993 at Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, NJ, during the "A Concert To Fight Hunger" benefit show. Check out the live 24 Jun 1993 version for more details.

On 15 Feb 1995, Springsteen joined Melissa Etheridge on THUNDER ROAD during the taping of her episode of MTV Unplugged at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music, New York City, NY. Check out the live 15 Feb 1995 version for more details. The song was also played on 21 Feb 1995 at the Tramps Nightclub, New York City, NY. This was a reunion gig with the E Street Band intended for the video shooting of MURDER INCORPORATED.

Greatest Hits was released on 28 Feb 1995. Though it was never a single, Springsteen felt it was important to include THUNDER ROAD on the album because "it seemed central" as he told Neil Strauss in an Oct 1995 interview for Guitar World magazine: "We didn't try to get into a 'best of' because everybody's got their own ideas. Basically it was songs that came out as singles. The only exception is 'Thunder Road', but it seemed central." According to Dave Marsh, what prevented THUNDER ROAD for being released as a single back in 1975 was that, along with most of Born To Run album tracks, it was not short enough.

Following the release of Greatest Hits, THUNDER ROAD was played again with the E Street Band on 05 Apr 1995 at Sony Studios, New York City, NY. This show was video taped in front of a small audience, and some of the footage was later broadcast internationally to promote the Greatest Hits album. The live 05 Apr 1995 version of the song was officially released on the 1995 Hungry Heart EP. Check out the live 05 Apr 1995 version for more details.

On 09 Jul 1995, Bruce joined German rocker Wolfgang Niedecken and his Leopardefell Band at Cafe Eckstein, Berlin, Germany, to record the HUNGRY HEART video that was released that year as a single in Europe and also on Springsteen's The Complete Video Anthology / 1978-2000. In addition to seven attempts at HUNGRY HEART, the four-hour shoot included several covers and a Springsteen solo version of THUNDER ROAD.

The song was sound-checked during The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour, on 08 Nov 1996 at St. Rose Of Lima, Freehold, NJ, but was never played during the tour's regular shows. It was also played after the 22 May 1997 show at Teatro Augusteo, Napoli, Italy, from Bruce's dressing room window for the crowd below.

On the eve of the final leg of The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour, Springsteen received the Polar Music Prize from Swedish King Karl Gustav XVI on 05 May 1997 at the Stockholm Concert Hall, Stockholm, Sweden. A solo acoustic THUNDER ROAD was performed later that night during a celebratory banquet held at the Grand Hôtel, Stockholm, Sweden. Check out the live 05 May 1997 version for more details. The next performance was on 31 Jan 1998 at Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ, during the "Come Together: Jon Bon Jovi & Friends" benefit concert. Check out the live 31 Jan 1998 version for more details.

THUNDER ROAD was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for "Best Male Rock Vocal Performance". The 40th Grammy Awards ceremony was held on 25 Feb 1998 at Radio City Music Hall, New York City, NY. Bruce Springsteen did not attend, and the winner was Bob Dylan for his song COLD IRONS BOUND.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band embarked on The Reunion Tour in April 1999, and the full-band THUNDER ROAD was a stale inclusion in each of the 132 dates of the tour.

• The song was played during both of the tour's public warm-up rehearsal shows: 18 and 19 Mar 1999 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ.
• A mix of the 27 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 performances of the song was officially released in 2001 on the Live In New York City DVD, and was also included in 2003 on the Waitin' On A Sunny Day EP in Australia and Europe. Check out the live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version for more details.

During the 11 Sep 2001 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the twin towers of the World Trade Center, Monmouth County, NJ, where Springsteen resides with his family, suffered one of the highest death tolls of any population center. Springsteen read some of the New York Times obituaries in which the deceased were identified as his fans; he wound up calling some of the families to express his condolences. There was a headline for one man, Jim Berger, that read "A Fan f the Boss". Springsteen called up his widow, Suzanne, and he even sent a pre-recorded tape of himself in studio performing a solo version of THUNDER ROAD to the family of James Berger. Berger was a senior vice president of the insurance company AON Consulting Group in the World Trade Center who helped people get out before he was killed when it collapsed. He was a big Springsteen fan and this was his favorite song. The special videotaped tribute was played during the victim's memorial service on 05 Oct 2001, which was attended by 1,000 people. Springsteen dedicated his performance to Berger's three sons. "I understand this was one of your Pop's favorite songs," he said. Then, with a harmonica in his mouth and a guitar in his hands, he began to play THUNDER ROAD. He also gave the boys the harmonica with which he recorded the song. THUNDER ROAD from the the 30 Aug 2003 The Rising Tour show at the Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, would also be dedicated to the memory of Jim Berger.

THUNDER ROAD was played during the "The Alliance Of Neighbors Concerts", on 18 and 19 Oct 2001 at the Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ, and also acoustically during a public sound-check held on the afternoon of 18 Oct 2001 at the Count Basie Theatre. These shows were fundraisers for the families from Monmouth County, NJ, that were affected by the 9/11 tragedy. The 19 Oct 2001 show was broadcast on cable television. Check out the live 19 Oct 2001 version for more details.

On 13 and 14 Apr 2002, Bruce Springsteen played a pair of private benefit shows for the Rumson Country Day School (RCDS) held at the Stone Pony, Asbury park, NJ. Patti Scialfa would join Bruce on an acoustic THUNDER ROAD that was the show closer on both nights. Guests, besides friends and family, were parents and school supporters, who contributed $1000 per couple to the school for "admission," and RCDS teachers, who were reportedly invited for free. Springsteen announced his contribution a couple of months back at a private fundraising event for the school.

THUNDER ROAD was performed on 26 Jul 2002 at Sonny's Southern Cuisine restaurant in Asbury Park, when Springsteen played an intimate acoustic set for contest winners that were at the warm up gig for The Rising Tour that took place on the afternoon of the same day at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park. Patti Scialfa joined in on harmonies on THUNDER ROAD. The song was also played during one of the public rehearsal shows for the tour, on 30 Jul 2002 at the Convention Hall. On The Rising Tour, it was played a total of 58 times out of the 120 regular dates of the tour. Two month into the tour, the first half of the 16 Oct 2002 show at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain, was broadcast live at the time across Europe on MTV Europe and VH1 UK. The entire concert was released in Nov 2003 on the Live In Barcelona DVD. THUNDER ROAD was not part of the broadcast. Check out the live 16 Oct 2002 version for more details.

During the course of The Rising Tour, the song was also played off-tour, on:

• 29 Aug 2002 at The Planetarium, New York City, NY, during the MTV VMA Music Awards. Only the first track, THE RISING, was broadcast by MTV, but Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band went on to perform a mini concert (10 songs in total) through the driving rain.
• 04 Oct 2002 at Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, Boston, MA. Bruce gives a speech and performs a solo acoustic THUNDER ROAD at the bridge dedication ceremony. Check out the live 04 Oct 2002 version for more details.
• 19 and 20 Feb 2003 at Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA, during the two DoubleTake Magazine benefit shows. Check out the live 19 Feb 2003 version for more details.
• 29 Apr 2003 at Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ, during "The Hope Concert". Jon Bon Jovi and the Max Weinberg 7 joined Bruce Springsteen on THUNDER ROAD. This event was a benefit for Robert Bandiera Jr. who has neurological difficulties. He is the son of local band leader and guitarist Bobby Bandiera, a longtime colleague of Springsteen and Bon Jovi.

THUNDER ROAD was included on The Essential Bruce Springsteen compilation, released in Nov 2003. This collection is part of a series of Essential sets released by Columbia Records.

Springsteen appeared on 4 election rallies for Senator John Kerry (billed as the "Fresh Start For America Rally"), palying a set of 2 solo acoustic numbers on each -- THE PROMISED LAND and John Kerry's campaign theme NO SURRENDER. On the 4th and last date (01 Nov 2004 in Cleveland, OH), he added a third song, THUNDER ROAD, as a special dedication to one the World Trade Center widows who pushed hard for the 9/11 Comission:

THUNDER ROAD was played on 04 Apr 2005 at the Two River Theater, Red Bank, NJ, during the taping for Springsteen's episode of VH1's Storytellers television series. An edited version of the concert was released on the VH1 Storytellers DVD in September 2005. Check out the live 04 Apr 2005 version for more details.

Before the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour began, Bruce vowed that he is "not going to be playing an acoustic version of 'Thunder Road'." Despite that, he did perform the song on 12 Oct 2005 show at Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN. This was the only Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour tour performance of the song. Check out the live 12 Oct 2005 version for more details. Note that the song was also sound-checked on 03 Aug 2005 at Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI, but not played during the regular show. This was the last known performance of THUNDER ROAD.

Check out also all available lyrics pages for THUNDER ROAD:

• Album version (more details)
• Alternative version #1
• Alternative version #2
• Alternative version #3
• Alternative version #4
• Live 05 Feb 1975 version
• Live 18 Oct 1975 version
• Live 18 Nov 1975 version
• Live 19 Sep 1978 version
• Live 22 Sep 1979 version
• Live 16 Nov 1990 version
• Live 22 Sep 1992 version
• Live 24 Jun 1993 version
• Live 15 Feb 1995 version
• Live 05 Apr 1995 version
• Live 05 May 1997 version
• Live 31 Jan 1998 version
• live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version
• Live 19 Oct 2001 version
• Live 04 Oct 2002 version
• Live 16 Oct 2002 version
• Live 19 Feb 2003 version
• Live 04 Apr 2005 version
• Live 12 Oct 2005 version
• Greg Kihn's version
• Badly Drawn Boy
• Cowboy Junkies' version
• Kevin Rowland's version

THUNDER ROAD was included on several Bruce Springsteen samplers:

THUNDER ROAD was also included on several various artists compilations, including:

Cover versions of THUNDER ROAD appeared on numerous Bruce Springsteen tribute albums:

Various artists -- The Smithereens - Downbound Train CD EP - The Right Stuff (72438-58691-2-9) - USA - 1998 THUNDER ROAD is performed by Greg Kihn (check out Greg Kihn's version for more details) The second single released from the One Step Up / Two Steps Back tribute album. THUNDER ROAD is one of the non-album bonus tracks.

American Boys -- Bruce Springsteen - Coverversion CD - Azzurra (TBP 1113) - Italy - 2000

Studio 99 -- Born In The USA: Springsteen - A Tribute CD - Going For A Song (GFS402) - UK - 2001

Richard Coleman -- I Can't Believe It's Not... Bruce Springsteen CD - Pegasus (ICBINCD 047) - Germany - 2001

Nick White -- The Music Of Bruce Springsteen CD - Millennium Gold (MG2110) - Holland - 2002

The Section -- Hometown: The String Quartet Tribute To Springsteen CD - Vitamin (CD 8678) - USA - 2002

Various artists -- Born To Run 2003 - The Best of The Boss, Volume One CD - Uncut (UNCUT 2003 04A) - UK - 2003 THUNDER ROAD is performed by Badly Drawn Boy (check out Badly Drawn Boy's version for more details Free CD (volume 1 of 2) released with the April 2003 issue of Uncut magazine

Various artists -- Born To Run 2003 - The Best of The Boss, Volume Two CD - Uncut (UNCUT 2003 04B) - UK - 2003 THUNDER ROAD is performed by Greg Kihn (check out Greg Kihn's version for more details) Free CD (volume 2 of 2) released with the April 2003 issue of Uncut magazine

Various artists -- Light Of Day: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen 3 CD - Good Sounds (DM 797-02) - Spain, 2003 2 CD - Good Sounds (DM 797E-02) - Spain, 2003 2 CD - Schoolhouse Records (SHR0022-2) - USA, 2003 2 CD - Sony (MHCP-928/9) - Japan, 2005 2 CD - Revolver (REVXD 244) - UK, 2005 Contains 2 versions of THUNDER ROAD: THUNDER ROAD [#1] is performed by Dan Bern THUNDER ROAD [#2] is performed by Jaime Anglada [on the Spanish 3-CD version only]

American Boys -- Bruce Springsteen - The Best - Cover 100% CD - Azzurra (TBP 1152) - Italy - 2003

Various artists -- Reason To Believe: A Country Music Tribute To Bruce Springsteen CD - Sterling / Warner Special Products (?) - USA - 2004 THUNDER ROAD is performed by John Berry

New Jersey All Stars -- A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen CD - Cedar (1402) - Europe - 2004

Various artists -- Thunder Road - Tracks Inspired By The Boss CD - Uncut (UNCUT 2005 11) - UK - 2005 THUNDER ROAD is performed by Mary Lou Lord Free CD released with the November 2005 issue of Uncut magazine

Paul Baribeau & Ginger Alford -- Darkness On The Edge Of Your Town Tour CD - USA - 2005 CD - USA - 2009 All songs performed/recorded live CD-R copies - no label or label number - CD sold on tour and online

Matt Tyler -- Brilliant Disguise CD - Dannyboy Records (DBM003) - UK - 2006

The Blankket -- Be Your Own Boss CD EP - Blocks Recording Club (040) - Canada - 2007

The song was also covered by many other artists, including:

John Berry -- Saddle The Wind CD - Liberty (27900) - USA - 1994

Cowboy Junkies -- 'Neath Your Covers, Part 1 CD EP - Zoe Records (6-01143-2005-2-6) - USA - 2004 Free 5-track EP with One Soul Now CD purchase. Check out Cowboy Junkies' version for more details.

Double Negative -- Live at Elandorf 1996 CD - Nibor (1058) - USA - 1996 Live

Barbara Fasano -- The Girls of Summer CD - Human Child (hcr400) - USA - 1998

Various artists -- Drew's Famous 30 Greatest Race Tracks Classics 2-CD - Turn Up The Music (TUTM 1291-2) - USA - 2002 THUNDER ROAD is performed by The Hit Crew

Ashton Jones -- American Boy CD EP - USA - 2004

Martyn Joseph -- Run To Cover CD - Pipe Records (PRCD 009) - UK - 2004

Greg Kihn -- True Kihnfessions CD - Corazong (???) - USA - 2000 Check out Greg Kihn's version for more details

Milow -- You Don't Know CD EP - Homeboy / Munich (MRCDS 858) - Belgium - 2007 Live

Kevin Rowland -- My Beauty Promo CD - Creation (CRECD 216P) - UK - 1999 The album was supposed to have 12 tracks, but Springsteen's THUNDER ROAD was pulled from the album at the last minute due to Springsteen not approving to the lyrical re-writes done by Kevin Rowland. The promo-CD distributed (to radio/press) prior to the official album did have all 12 tracks. Check out Kevin Rowland's version for more details

Renato Russo -- Renato Russo Presente CD - EMI (EMI 583029 2) - Brazil - 2003

The Springstreeters -- Ground Zero CD - (none) - USA - 1997

Tortoise & Bonnie Prince Billy -- The Brave And The Bold LP - Overcoat Recordings (???) - Canada - 2006 CD - Overcoat Recordings (OC27) - Canada - 2006

Hayward Williams -- Another Sailor's Dream CD - no label - USA - 2007

Bruce Springsteen and THUNDER ROAD are mentioned in The Hangdogs' song THE RING:

And hey, while you're looking, maybe you could have a glance at this Springsteen bootleg circa 84, was playing "Thunder Road" the night I rode out for the promised land, now I found her and I don't need it no more.

It is available on:

• The Hangdogs -- East Of Yesterday
  CD - Crazyhead Records (CH-66622) - USA - 1997
• The Hangdogs -- East Of Yesterday
  CD - Shanachie (5734) - USA - 1999

THUNDER ROAD and numerous other Springsteen references appear in the Bran Van 3000 song SPEED:

See Mary dancing across the porch she put her rolled up Ziggys in her rock and roll jersey Jersey, she was born to run she was the spirit of midnight she was blinded by the light she was holed up in jungleland straight up the rock and roll big boss turnpike down by the river of desire just off Thunder Road where you catch her in the tenth avenue freeze out she was lost in a flood Mary, queen of Arkansas dreaming of a cadillac ranch with a hungry heart but most of all she was born in the USA Asbury Park, New Jersey.

It is available on:

• Bran Van 3000 -- Discosis
  2-LP - Grand Royal / Virgin (???) - Canada - 2001
• Bran Van 3000 -- Discosis
  2-CD - Grand Royal / Virgin (???) - Canada - 2001
• Various artists -- Uncut 51 - August 2001
  CD - Uncut (UG-32 38) - UK - 2001

Most of the recording info on this page are taken from Brucebase. Some of the info and scans for the Bruce Springsteen official releases are taken from the Lost In The Flood website. Most info and scans for the Bruce Springsteen tribute albums are taken from the Nebraska website. Thanks Charissa.

Request:
I'm not sure if I mentioned all the existing releases that include THUNDER ROAD, and I don't have the complete info and scans for all of them. You can help by sending additions, corrections, better scans, or comments at , or by using the below form. You will be credited. Thanks in advance.

Liner notes by Bruce Springsteen in the Greatest Hits booklet:

Stole the title from the Robert Mitchum picture, the vocal sound from Roy Orbison (I Tried), the innocence of the tome was mine.

Bruce Springsteen writes in his book Songs:

"Thunder Road" opens the album, introducing its characters and its central proposition: Do you want to take a chance? On us? On life?

Info about the motion picture Thunder Road:

A father comes home to Tennessee from the "police action" in Korea to take over operation of the family moonshine making operation, but runs afoul of some gangsters who want in on the action. Starring: Robert Mitchum, Gene Barry Directed by: Arthur Ripley Produced by: Robert Mitchum Written by: Robert Mitchum (story), James Atlee Phillips, Walter Wise Release date: 10 May 1958 (USA)

Info about the motion picture Mask:

A boy with a massive facial skull deformity and biker gang mother attempts to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances. Starring: Cher, Eric Stoltz, Sam Elliott, Laura Dern Directed by: Peter Bogdanovich Produced by: Martin Starger Written by: Anna Hamilton Phelan Release date: 08 Mar 1985