For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, writers were asked to get into their natural element by finding a song with the given words—air, Earth, fire, or water—in either the title or the lyrics. Carlos Condit, the former WEC Welterweight Champion and UFC Interim Welterweight Champion, was known as “The Natural Born Killer,” though he breathed a special form of life into the fight game. When Condit entered the arena to  “The Ghost of Tom Joad” by Rage Against the Machine, fans were aware—much like the character from The Grapes of Wrath—a mixed martial artist who devoted his energies to the present moment would be on display for the world to see.

Lyrics to “The Ghost of Tom Joad”:

[Verse 1]

Man walks along the railroad track

He’s goin’ some place, there’s no turnin’ back

The Highway Patrol chopper comin’ up, over the ridge

Man sleeps by a campfire under the bridge

The shelter line stretchin’ around the corner

Welcome to the New World Order

Families sleepin’ in their cars out in the Southwest

No job, no hope, no peace, no rest, no rest

[Chorus]

And the highway is alive tonight

Nobody’s foolin’ nobody as to where it goes

I’m sitting down here in the campfire light

Searchin’ for the ghost pf Tom Joad

[Verse 2]

He pulls his prayer book out of a sleepin’ bag

The preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag

He’s waitin’ for the time when the “last shall be first, and the first shall be last”

In a cardboard box ‘neath the underpass

With a one way ticket to the promised ;and

With a hole in your belly and a gun in your hand

Lookin’ for a pillow of solid rock

Bathin’ in the cities’ aqueducts

[Chorus]

And the highway is alive tonight

Nobody’s foolin’ nobody as to where it goes

I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light

With the ghost of old Tom Joad

[Bridge]

Now Tom said, “Ma

Whenever ya see a cop beatin’ a guy

Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries

Wherever there’s a fight against the blood and hatred in the air

Look for me, ma’, I’ll be there

Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ for a place to stand

For a decent job or a helpin’ hand

Wherever somebody is strugglin’ to be free

Look in their eyes, ma, you’ll see me

You’ll see me

You’ll see me

You’ll see me

You’ll see me

You’ll see me

You’ll see me

You’ll see me

You’ll see me

[Chorus]

And the highway is alive tonight

Nobody’s foolin’ nobody as to where it goes

I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light

With the ghost of Tom Joad

Prompted from Song Lyric Sunday at: https://jimadamsauthordotcom.wordpress.com/2020/07/11/four-elements/.