THUNDER ROAD^©

Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version

[27 Jun 2000 part:]

Screen door slams and Mary's dress sway
Like a vision she danced across the porch as the radio plays
It's Roy Orbison, he's singing for the lonely
Hey it's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone anymore
Won't you 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, hey!
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night*
Hey you ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright, yeah!*
Well that's alright with me*

[27 Jun 2000 part:]

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 I'm no hero, that's understood
All 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
Hey the night's bustin' open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
Well 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
We're 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
I know it's late but we can make it if we run
Oh oh oh Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road

Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk**
My car's out back if you're ready to take that long along walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride it ain't free
I know you're lonely, those words that I ain't spoken
Well tonight girl, 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 skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
In the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines roaring on
You get to the porch, they're gone on the wind, so Mary climb in
It's a town full of losers, we're pulling outta here to win

Page last updated: 06 Aug 2008

The Reunion Tour wrapped up with a 10-nights stand at Madison Square Gardens, New York City, NY, between 12 Jun and 01 Jul 2000. Footage from the last three nights (27 Jun, 29 Jun, and 01 Jul 2000) was used in early 2001 for HBO's Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live In New York City TV special. Running 90 minutes, the film consisted of a 14-songs selection from the last two nights (29 Jun and 01 Jul 2000). It first aired on 07 Apr 2001 and was the first ever major televised Bruce Springsteen concert.

In 2001, HBO received six Emmy Award nominations and won two for their acclaimed film.

• Nominee for "Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program"
• Winner of "Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multicamera) for VMC Programming"
• Nominee for "Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special"
• Nominee for "Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special"
• Winner of "Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special"
• Nominee for "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special"

The full HBO broadcast was released on Live In New York City, both the album (released on 03 Apr 2001) and the DVD (released on 06 Nov 2001). Note that the album includes 6 bonus tracks (20 in all), and the DVD includes an additional 5 plus one audio track that plays over the end credits (26 in all). These bonus tracks are taken from the three filmed nights (27 Jun, 29 Jun, and 01 Jul 2000). Click here to display/hide detailed track listing with dates.

THUNDER ROAD didn't miss any of the 132 dates of The Reunion Tour, always played full-band. The song was "not" part of the HBO special, and was not included on the CD release. However, a mix of the 27 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 performances of the song was included on the Live In New York City DVD. The above lyrics are for that mix from the live 27 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 performance at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY.

* On these three lines, the crowd sings along with Springsteen. Lyrics in italic are sung by the crowd only.
** This line is followed by a quick but heavy guitar riff.

This live 29 Jun 2000 version was also officially released in 2003 on the Waitin' On A Sunny Day CD EP in Australia and Europe.

List of available versions of YOUNGSTOWN on this website:

• Album's 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

Request:
It is reported that an enhanced version of the above Australian CD EP exits. It has the same catalogue number (COL 673583 2), and includes -- in addition to the 4 audio tracks -- video clips for DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN and THUNDER ROAD taken from the Live In New York City DVD. If you have any info about this release, please contact me via the below form or by email: . You will be credited. Thanks in advance.