Midnight Special by Johnny Rivers Chords Different Versions Chords, Tab, Tabs. Chords Diagrams. Guitar Tabs Universe. The Midnight Special Creedence Clearwater Revival Chords and Lyrics for Guitar. Search engine for finding guitar chords and guitar tabs.
- Midnight Special. One day, one day, Sir I was walking along I heard that Midnight Special Singing a lonesome song Oh, let the Midnight Special Shine her light on me Let the Midnight Special Shine her ever lovin light on me If you ever go to Houston You know you better walk right You know you better not stagger You know you better not fight 'Cause the sheriff will just arrest you You know.
- Midnight Special - Johnny Rivers G G C G You get up in the morning'. You hear the ding dong ring D7 C G And you look up on the table. You see the same darn thing. C G You find no food upon the.
Origins
A traditional American song, the first trace of Midnight Special in print is in 1905. The lyric, which is told from a prisoner's viewpoint, must have appealed to Huddy Ledbetter (better known, of course, as Lead Belly) who popularised the song. Lead Belly was himself a sometime convict and was, in fact, recorded singing the song whilst in jail during the 1930s. The Midnight Special of the title is a train. I would like to believe the rather romantic story that the passing train's light shone into prison cells near Houston, offering a hope of salvation. The other theory is that the cons would prefer to be run over by the train rather than spend the rest of their time in prison. Take your pick! Midnight Special is a much-recorded song. There is a skiffle version by Lonnie Donegan, and recordings by Credence Clearwater Revival, Harry Belafonte and Van Morrison, amongst others. Even the Beatles had a go at it. Its simple three chord structure makes it an ideal song for beginner guitarists to learn to play.
Chords
Capo at 2nd Fret
Verse
G C G
“Yonder come Miss Rosie.” “How in the world do you know?”
D7 G
“Well I know her by the apron, and the dress she wore.”
C G
Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand:
D7 G
“I'm gonna ask the governor, toe turn lose my man.”
Chorus
C G
Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
D7 G
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.
Lyrics
“Yonder come Miss Rosie.” “How in the world do you know?”
“Well I know her by the apron, and the dress she wore.”
Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand:
“I'm gonna ask the governor, toe turn lose my man.”
Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.
When you get up in the morning, when that big bell ring,
You go and march to the table, you see the same damn thing:
Knife and fork are on the table, there's nothing in my pan,
And if you say anything about it, you’re having trouble with the man.
Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.
Well I went to the nation and to the territory;
I thought about the girl I love, in that Mexico.
Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.
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, you’re penitentiary bound.
Midnight Special Chords Ccr
Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.
Well jumping little Judy, she was a mighty fine girl.
Judy brought jumping to this whole round world.
Well she brought it in the morning, just a while before day,
She brought me the news that my wife was dead.
That started me to grieving, then hollering and crying,
Then I had to give the worry about a been a long time.
Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.
Other American Folk Songs
Other Traditional Folk Songs
Midnight Special Chords Johnny Rivers
Well you wake up in the mornin’, you hear the work bell ring
And they march you to the table to 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
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 an ever lovin’ light on me
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
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 an ever lovin’ light on me
If you’re ever in Houston, well, you better do the right
You better not gamble, there, 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
Midnight Special Chords And Tabs
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 an ever lovin’ 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 light on me
Let the Midnight Special shine an ever lovin’ light on me