THUNDER ROAD

Kevin Rowland's cover version

The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the floor 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
Don't run back inside, darling you know just what I'm here for
'Cause you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we're not so young anymore
Have a lick of faith, there's magic in the night
This is your beauty and hey, you're all right
Oh and that's all right with me, yes

You can hide 'neath your covers and cuddle your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain for a savior to rise from these streets
Well I'm not perfect, that's understood
I'll tell you something and you I wanna see you good
With a chance to make it real somehow
What else can we do now
Except roll down the windows and let the wind blow back your hair
Well your lives busting open, your beauty can take us anywhere
We've got one last chance to make this real
To trade in these wings on what's real
Come on, you are so beautiful oh-oh

Oh-oh come take my hand
We're going out tonight to case up the promised land
Oh-oh-oh thunder road, oh thunder road, oh thunder road
Laying out there there's a killer in the sun
Hey I know it's late but we'll make it if we run
Oh-oh-oh thunder road, sit tight, tonight, thunder road

Well I've got this guitar and I've learned how to make it sin
And my car's out back if you're ready to take this long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride's not cheap
Hell I know you're lonely for words I'm not spoken
Tonight we'll be free, all promises be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the put-downs that you deceived
They haunt you still in the night but now is the time to let them roll away yes
They scream your name at night in the streets
Congratulations boy, the world's at your feet
You've always been alone
Now is the time to let that all go
'Cause I'm here, honey I'm here, so come over here
It's a town full of winners, we're getting out of here to win
Check!

Info

The above lyrics are for Kevin Rowland's cover of THUNDER ROAD, which features significant lyrics variations to Springsteen's original. The song was planned for released on Rowland's 1999 album My Beauty but it was pulled from the album cut at the last minute due to Springsteen not approving to the lyrical re-writes done by Rowland which changed the meaning of the song. However, promotional copies of the album that were distributed to the press and to radio stations prior to the official album release date did include THUNDER ROAD.

My Beauty is a collection of interpretations of classic songs, although Rowland rewrote several of the lyrics to reflect his battles against substance abuse. The album is infamous for its font cover, which shows Rowland in drag and heavy makeup. The album was released on Creation Records and received mixed reviews upon its release.

Kevin Rowland -- My Beauty

CD - Creation (CRECD 216P) - UK, 1999

This promo issue exclusively contains Kevin Rowland's cover version of THUNDER ROAD.

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:

Page last updated: 30 Mar 2014