Johnny works in a factory and Billy works downtown

Terry works in a rock 'n' roll band looking for that million-dollar sound

Me I got a little job down in Darlington but some nights I don't go

Some nights I go to the drive-in and some night I stay home



You see I followed that dream just like those guys do way up on the screen

With a built-up Challenger down route 9

Through the dead ends and all the bad scenes

And when the promise was broken I cashed in a few of my old dreams



You see I built that Challenger by myself

But I needed money and so I sold it

And I lived a secret I should have kept to myself

But I got drunk one night and I told it

All my life I fought that fight

The one that I can't ever win

And everyday it just gets harder to live

The dreams I'm believing in

Thunder Road

Oh baby you were so right

Thunder Road

There's something dying on the Highway tonight



Well now my Daddy taught me how to walk quiet

And how to make my peace with the past

And I learned real good to tighten up inside

And I don't say nothin' unless I'm asked



When the promise is broken you go on livin'

But it takes something from down in your soul

Like when the truth is spoken

And it don't make no difference

Something in your heart turns cold



You see I followed that dream, me and some guys

Through the dead ends and all the two-bit bars



I followed that dream through the southwestern tracks

Through the dead-ends and the two-bit bars (a 1999 live performance)



I followed that dream through the southwestern tracks

The dead-ends and the two-bit bars

(an older live recoding)



I followed that dream through the southwestern flats

And