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Released in 1987

Midnight Special (Prisoner's Song)

Written by Traditional

Last updated on June 22, 2019

Album This song officially appears on the Once Upon a Long Ago #2 12" Single.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1987

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

From Wikipedia:

“Midnight Special” is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South. The title comes from the refrain, which refers to the passenger train Midnight Special and its “ever-loving light” (sometimes “ever-living light“):

Let the Midnight Special shine her light on me,
Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-loving light on me.

The song is historically performed in the country-blues style from the viewpoint of the prisoner and has been covered by many artists. […]

Paul McCartney has performed it numerous times (with The Beatles and solo). It was the closing song on his 1988 album Choba B CCCP and was performed on his 1991 appearance on MTV Unplugged, but was not included on the accompanying album. […]

From the “Choba B CCCP” liner notes:

Midnight Special is public domain and anyone personally rearranging the song has the legal right to claim a composer credit. The legendary blues artist, Leadbelly first claimed it sometime between 1918 and 1925 when serving time for murder in Harlem – an all-black Texas prison.

The prison, which no longer exists, was located near Sugarland just outside of Houston and the words in the song, “Let the Midnight Special shine its ever-lovin’ light on me,” refers to the prison myth that if the light of that train from Houston shone on an inmate he would be freed.

Paul’s easy-action version retain elements of its original blues roots by way of his nimble acoustic guitar pickin’.

Lyrics

Well you wake up early in the morning

Hear the ding dong bell

You go a-walkin' to the table

See the same damn thing

Knife and fork out on the table

Piece of paper round my hand

Nothing I can do about it

I'll get in trouble with the man

Let the midnight special

Shine her light on me

Let the midnight special

Shine his ever-loving light on me

If you ever go to Houston

You better act right

You better not gamble

And you better not fight

Because the Sheriff will arrest you

And he'll carry you down

And if they go and find you guilty

Penitentiary bound.

Let the midnight special

Shine her light on me

Let the midnight special

Shine his ever-loving light on me.

Well you wake up early in the morning

Hear the ding dong bell

You go a-walkin' to the table

See the same damn thing

Knife and fork out on the table

Piece of paper in my hand

Nothing I can do about it

I'll get in trouble with the man.

Let the midnight special

Shine her light on me

Let the midnight special

Shine his ever-loving light on me.

Well if I ever go to Houston

You better act right

You better not gamble

And you better not fight

Because the Sheriff will arrest you

And they'll carry you down

And if they find you guilty

Well you'll be sugar-line bound.

Let the midnight special

Shine his light on me

Let the midnight special

Shine his ever-loving light on me.

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Midnight Special (Prisoner's Song)”

Videos

Album Choba B CCCP (2019 remaster)

Soundcheck Jun 14, 2016 in Berlin

Live performances

“Midnight Special (Prisoner's Song)” has been played in 9 concerts and 207 soundchecks.

Latest concerts where “Midnight Special (Prisoner's Song)” has been played

See all concerts where “Midnight Special (Prisoner's Song)” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

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