At the heart of late 1960s rock, Creedence Clearwater Revival defined an era with their swampy blues-rock sound and anthems like Fortunate Son.

Decades earlier, Lead Belly’s powerful voice and 12-string guitar gave folk and blues a raw, emotional foundation with songs like Goodnight, Irene.

The 1950s saw Little Richard electrify early rock & roll with wild piano riffs and hits like Tutti Frutti, while Johnny Rivers carried that momentum into the 1960s, blending rock, blues, and pop with energetic, radio-friendly hits like Secret Agent Man.

These artists reshaped their era with their unique and engaging vocals and sounds, and inspired generations.

About the Song

The Midnight Special is a classic American folk song that has traveled through generations, resonating as a powerful voice of hope and freedom.

Its lyrics focus on a prisoner’s longing for liberation, with the Midnight Special train symbolizing the promise of a brighter future.

Over time, many artists have covered The Midnight Special, each adding their own interpretation. Despite its simple structure, the song carries emotional weight and continues to inspire listeners today.

The Midnight Special Lyrics by Lead Belly

Yonder come Miss Rosie, how in the world do you know
Well I know by the apron and the dress she wore
Well an umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand
Well I’m gonna ask the governor, he turn a-lose a-my man

Let the midnight special, shine the light on me
Let the midnight special, shine the ever-lovin’ light on me

When you get up in the mornin’, when that big bell ring
You go and march to the table, see the same damn thing
Knife and fork are on the table, there’s nothin’ in my pan
And if you say anything about it, havin’ trouble with the man

Well I went to the nation and to the territo(ry)
Well I thought about the girl I love, in that Mexico

If you ever go to Houston, oh you better walk right
And you better not squallow and you better not fight
Sheriff Rocko will arrest you, Eddie Boone will take you down
You can bet your bottom dollar, penitentiary bound

Well jumpin’ little Judy, she was a mighty fine girl
Well Judy brought jumpin’ to this whole round world
Well she brought it in the mornin’, just a while before day
She brought me the news, that my wife was dead
That started me to grievin’, then hollerin’ and a-cryin’
Then I had to give the worry about a been a long time

The Midnight Special by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Verse 1

Well, you wake up in the mornin’
You hear the work bell ring
And they march you to the table
You see the same old thing
Ain’t no food upon the table
And no pork up in the pan
But you better not complain, boy
You get in trouble with the man

Chorus

Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a ever lovin’ light on me

Verse 2

Yonder come miss Rosie
How in the world did you know?
By the way she wears her apron
And the clothes she wore
Umbrella on her shoulder
Piece of paper in her hand
She come to see the gov’nor
She wants to free her man, lord

Chorus

Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a ever lovin’ light on me

Verse 3

If you’re ever in Houston
Well, you better do the right
You better not gamble
There and you better not fight, at all
Or the sheriff will grab ya
And the boys will bring you down
The next thing you know, boy
Oh! You’re prison bound

Chorus

Well let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a ever lovin’ light on me

Chorus

Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special
Shine a ever lovin’ light
On me

The Midnight Special Lyrics by Little Richard

Verse 1

Well, you wake up in the morning
You hear the work bell ring
And they march you to the table
You see the same old thing
Aren’t no food upon the table
And no fork up in the pan
But you better not complain, boy
You get in trouble with the man

Chorus

Let the midnight special shine a light on me[x3]
Let the midnight special shine a ever-loving light on me

Verse 2

Yonder come miss Rosie
How in the world did you know
By the way she wears her apron
And the clothes she wore
Umbrella on her shoulder
Piece of paper in her hand
She come to see the governor
She want to free her man

Chorus

Verse 3

If you’re ever in Houston
Well you’d better do right
You’d better not gamble
And you better not fight at all
Or the sheriff will grab you
And the boys will bring you down
The next thing you know boy
Well, you’re prison bound

Chorus x2

The Midnight Special Lyrics by Johnny Rivers

Verse 1

You get up in the mornin’, you hear the ding-dong ring
Now you look up on the table, you see the same darn thing
You find no food upon the table and no pork up in the pan
But if you say a thing about it, you be in trouble with the man

Chorus

Ah, let the Midnight Special shine a light on me
Oh, let the Midnight Special shine its everlovin’ light on me

Verse 2

Now if you’re ever in Houston, oh, you better walk right
Aw, you better not gamble, boy, I say you better not fight
Or the sheriff he will grab you, and the boys will pull you down
And then before you know it, you’re penitentary bound

Chorus

Ah, let the Midnight Special shine a light on me
Let the Midnight Special shine its everlovin’ light on me

Verse 3

Here comes Miss Lucy, how in the world did you know?
I can tell by her apron and by the clothes she wore
An umbrella on her shoulder, she got a paper in her hand
She come to see the warden to try to free her man

Chorus

So, let the Midnight Special shine a light on me
Ah, let the Midnight Special shine its everlovin’ light on me
I said, let the Midnight Special shine a light on me
Ah, let the Midnight Special shine its everlovin’ light on me

Similar Songs Like The Midnight Special

Here are songs that embody the same spirit as The Midnight Special, each performed by an artist who also recorded their own version of this folk classic:

• Rock Island Line: This Lead Belly song rolls forward with train-like rhythm and simple guitar. It tells a clever story about escaping trouble using wit and charm.
• Down on the Corner: Creedence Clearwater Revival brings a playful street-side feel with this track. Its upbeat energy and catchy tune make it timeless.
• Tutti Frutti: With high energy and joyful chaos, Little Richard’s classic is wild fun. His voice, rhythm, and flair redefined rock and roll forever.
• Secret Agent Man: Johnny Rivers adds mystery and swagger with this track. The guitar riffs and spy-like lyrics make it unforgettable and full of cool vibes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Midnight Special About?

The song is a traditional American folk song that began among Southern prisoners, with lyrics about a train whose light symbolized hope and freedom for inmates.

What does the Midnight Special Shine a Light on Me Mean?

The light from the Midnight Special symbolized hope; prisoners believed it could bring good luck, freedom, or a chance at a better future.

Who Wrote The Midnight Special?

It is a traditional folk song with no known author, passed down orally and first recorded in the early 1900s. Lead Belly popularized it but did not write it.