Country Music 1927 - 1980: Songs of Despair, Suicide, Murder, and Love

6. Midnight Special – Leadbelly 1940

Yonder comes 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,
Well, I’m going to ask the Governor,/"Turn a-loose my man."

Let the Midnight Special shine her light on me.
Oh let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me.

When you gets up in the morning,/When that big bell ring.
You go marching to the table/You meet the same damn thing.
Knife and fork are on the table/Ain’t nothing in my pan.
And if you say a thing about/You have a trouble with the man.

Let the Midnight Special shine her light on me.
Oh let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me.

Well I went to the Nation
???????????????
????? Girl I love lives in Mexico

Let the Midnight Special shine her light on me.
Oh let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me.

If you ever go to Houston/Boys, you better walk right,
And you better not squabble/And you better not fight.
Benson Crocker will arrest you/Jimmy Boone will take you down.
You can bet your bottom dollar/That you’re penitentiary bound.
(Chorus)
Well, jumping Little Judy/She was a mighty fine girl.
She brought jumping/To the 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,/Whooping, hollering, and crying.
And I began to worry/About my great long time.

Let the Midnight Special shine her light on me.
Oh let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me.