{"id":3096,"date":"2008-06-18T17:39:00","date_gmt":"2008-06-18T17:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2008\/06\/oh-oh-come-take-my-hand-were-riding-out-tonight-to-case-the-promised-land.html"},"modified":"2008-06-18T17:39:00","modified_gmt":"2008-06-18T17:39:00","slug":"oh-oh-come-take-my-hand-were-riding-out-tonight-to-case-the-promised-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2008\/06\/oh-oh-come-take-my-hand-were-riding-out-tonight-to-case-the-promised-land.html","title":{"rendered":"“Oh oh, come take my hand, we’re riding out tonight to case the Promised Land”"},"content":{"rendered":"
Watching the Tim Russert memorial at the Kennedy Center this afternoon on MSNBC, I saw Bruce Springsteen pop up, and he sang this tribute to the newsman, his classic song “Thunder Road”: <\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
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 savior to rise from these streets Well now, I ain’t 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 busting 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 on down the tracks<\/p>\n
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 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<\/p>\n
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 ain’t free And I know you’re lonely for words that I ain’t spoken But tonight we’ll be free, all the promises’ll be broken<\/p>\n
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 rolling 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. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n