Midnight Special is a traditional folk song that originated among prisoners in the American South. It appears in print as early as 1905. In the song, the prisoner describes his arrest, the tedium of prison life, a visit from his lady friend and from the prison doctor. In the refrain the singer uses gospel phrasing when he pleads, "Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-loving light on me."
According to one story, a midnight train used to roll past the Sugerland Prison outside of Houston, Texas. If the light of that train fell upon a prisoner it was considered a sign that he would be released. This light of salvation gave the prisoners a reason to live. Apparently for a prison to function properly all the prisoners (even those serving life sentences) must believe that there is a chance that they will get out. Prison guards know this and sometimes spread fantastic stories of escape to give the prisoners hope.Following are a few renditions of this great old song.
This first version comes from Huddie William "Lead Belly" Ledbetter. Lead Belly is known for his virtuosity with the twelve string guitar as well as introducing many of the songs that make up the American folk songbook. He also spent a lot of time behind bars. In 1915 Lead Belly was arrested for carrying a pistol and sentenced to a chain gang from which he escaped. But in 1918 he was captured after he shot his cousin in a fight over a woman. This time he was sent to Sugerland, which is probably where he learned Midnight Special. In 1930 he was imprisoned again after knifing a white man in a fight. This time he served his sentence in the infamous Angola Prison Farm. And that is where musicologist John Lomax and his son Alan Lomax met him and recorded this song.
Midnight Special |
Odetta brings us this next version. Odetta was a beautiful singer and activist who was one of the main voices of the Civil Rights Movement. Her final performance was last year at San Francisco's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. She died two months later. Odetta brought a depth to any song she covered. I once heard someone describe her voice as a slow train leaving the station.
Midnight Special |
This last version is from Creedance Clearwater Revival.
Midnight Special |