I like both versions of the song...Springsteen's is more sad and as Jip said more 'subtle', while Rage's is more...anger. How can the story of a man from a book called The Grapes of WRATH not be about anger? For anyone who has seen the movie or read the book knows that it deals a lot with the anger of the migrant people. First, the tenant farmers in Oklahoma are booted off their lands. They are forced to leave their homes and find work to support their families. The people suffer from homelessness, starvation, discrimination, and brutality. How could you not be angry about this? It's both sad and anger. Also in the book, there's many interchapters where Steinbeck rants about the anger of the people towards banks, police, etc.
Like sKaDforLiFe said, the last verse in the song is nearly the same as in the book, in Chapter 28 - when Tom is talking to Ma: "I'll be all aroun' in the dark, I'll be ever'where- wherever you look. Wherever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there.... I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'- I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build- why I'll be there."
If you haven't read the book, I suggest reading it. Also watch the movie. If you're not much of a reader you could always look at pinkmonkey.com for summaries and stuff. Peace.
I like both versions of the song...Springsteen's is more sad and as Jip said more 'subtle', while Rage's is more...anger. How can the story of a man from a book called The Grapes of WRATH not be about anger? For anyone who has seen the movie or read the book knows that it deals a lot with the anger of the migrant people. First, the tenant farmers in Oklahoma are booted off their lands. They are forced to leave their homes and find work to support their families. The people suffer from homelessness, starvation, discrimination, and brutality. How could you not be angry about this? It's both sad and anger. Also in the book, there's many interchapters where Steinbeck rants about the anger of the people towards banks, police, etc. Like sKaDforLiFe said, the last verse in the song is nearly the same as in the book, in Chapter 28 - when Tom is talking to Ma: "I'll be all aroun' in the dark, I'll be ever'where- wherever you look. Wherever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there.... I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'- I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build- why I'll be there." If you haven't read the book, I suggest reading it. Also watch the movie. If you're not much of a reader you could always look at pinkmonkey.com for summaries and stuff. Peace.