The Ghost of Tom Joad

Even though the artists are singing the same song, the two versions of “The Ghost of Tom Joad” are completely different because of the musician’s ability to individualize the song to their own interpretation.  The song comes from the book, The Grapes of Wrath, where Tom Joad is an Okie during the great depression.  Throughout the entire book, the characters face oppression by their fellow man as they face the cutthroat world society has created with the loss of money’s comfort.  The story is a sad one, but Bruce Springsteen and The Rage Against the Machine tell it entirely different.

In Bruce Springsteen’s version the listener gets a definite feel of the melancholy aspect of the song.  With acoustic guitars and the haunting sound of the harmonica, a gloomy yet frighteningly real mood is cast while Springsteen barely whispers the lyrics.  Not only is there a heartbreaking sentiment but there is also a plea, a rally for change that moves the listener to reexamine the world they live in.  Springsteen appeals to the listener’s sense of character, and warns that this injustice cannot be tolerated.

In the version created by The Rage Against The Machine, a rock metal feel is added to the song therefore creating a feeling of resentment and fury toward the listener for allowing this unfairness to occur.  The sound of a helicopter at the beginning creates a building effect right before the lyrics start.  The singer is not necessarily yelling, but his voice is stressed, causing a reexamining of oneself rather than the rest of the world.  The listener feels almost guilty and ignorant that they didn’t see this result coming all along.  This band appeals to the emotions of the listener and authoritatively demands change.

It is eye opening to see how a song can be changed so dramatically simply by a change in instruments and the voice behind the story.  However, both methods are rather effective at pointing out society’s flaws and just how much people will take.