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             

 When the promise was broken                                

 I was drunk and far away from home                         

 Sleeping with a stranger in the back seat of a borrowed car

 Thunder Road                                

 And when it washes away with the rain       

 Thunder Road                                

 You learn to walk among the remains         

 Thunder Road                                

 I remember when me and Terry we'd always say

 Thunder Road                                

 We were gonna take it all                   

 And throw it all                            

 Away