Song of the Day (BLM): Lead Belly – Midnight Special

Day 16. Blues influenced Folk singer Huddie William Ledbetter, aka Lead Belly, is one of the most important musicians in American Folk music. Perhaps best known in contemporary times for Nirvana’s cover of his Wheer Did You Sleep Last Night?, Lead Belly wrote or adapted a great deal of songs which have become Blues & Folk standards today. Midnight Special, Goodnight Irene, Pick A Bale Of Cotton & many more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Looking for some great music? Why not check out the Song of the Day (BLM) Spotify playlist?