I use to play a harmonica with a Rock/blues garage band three decades ago. I really got into blues at that time. This song dates back to at least the early 1900's. It's been recorded many. times over the years."Leadbelly" recorded it in the 1940", and customized some of the lyrics to what are pretty much the standard lyrics. The common interpretation is that the "Midnight Special" is a train that passes by a prison. If the train's light shines on a prisoner, it foreshadows redemption, salvation or possibly even release.
I agree with your background info. I would have to describe this recording as having strong Gospel influences intertwined with the Swamp Blues CCR was known for.
"Midnight Special", to paraphrase Wikipedia, is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South. Huddie William "Lead Belly" Ledbetter recorded a version of the song in 1934 at Angola Prison for ethnomusicologists John and Alan Lomax, who mistakenly attributed it to him as the author. In their book, Best Loved American Folk Songs, they tell a credible story identifying the Midnight Special as a train from Houston, Texas shining its light into a cell in the Sugar Land Prison. The light of the train is seen as the light of salvation, the train which could take them away from the prison walls. That angle lends itself to the Gospel feeling of the song, as if it was sung in church rather than the work farm. PS. Harmonica. When you're ready for more from Creedence Clearwater Revival also check out "Down on the Corner", "Lodi", "Don't Look Now", "Proud Mary", "Green River", "Bad Moon Rising", and the eleven minute album version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Fire!
There's a reason this song is used in a lot of movies that have a poor or fantastic theme to them because it just has that kind of tone that goes well with those type of films
This is a classic working man's song by Leadbelly. But what's great about CCR's version is that it's lovingly done, always a good one when I'm getting ready to go to work!
I definitely see why you would think of Reggae for that part, but if you listen to it again, notice that it's essentially there early on as well. In fact I think it's just one more of those great clever CCR intros, where it's just voices and then you hear acoustic guitar and then you hear the bass guitar, and the drums hold off for a while, so that when they do come in it just profoundly changes the feeling of the song although the rhythm of it that is underlying was implied from the very beginning. But yeah, again late in the song, they take the drums out and let the bass and guitar just kind of slide up into their notes, and it gives it a kind of a reggae flavor for a bit.
In trouble with the man "the police"? Midnight special can be a reference to a gun, correct? This song has always confused me. "Midnight special shite an ever lovin' light on me"? Maybe I'm being to literal Per google "the Midnight Special" was a train and it's headlight would shine into cells.
Gee ,,, if I forgot the name "harmonica" or even "mouth organ" you would call me senile or afflicted by dementia or some other age-related neurological deficit ... WTAF 😁
This is one of those old songs that old blues men sang. No one quite knows who wrote it, it was just passed on from ear to ear over the years
I use to play a harmonica with a Rock/blues garage band three decades ago. I really got into blues at that time. This song dates back to at least the early 1900's. It's been recorded many. times over the years."Leadbelly" recorded it in the 1940", and customized some of the lyrics to what are pretty much the standard lyrics. The common interpretation is that the "Midnight Special" is a train that passes by a prison. If the train's light shines on a prisoner, it foreshadows redemption, salvation or possibly even release.
I agree with your background info. I would have to describe this recording as having strong Gospel influences intertwined with the Swamp Blues CCR was known for.
one of their best lesser known tracks ♥
Believe this was theme song to show of same name.
"Midnight Special", to paraphrase Wikipedia, is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South. Huddie William "Lead Belly" Ledbetter recorded a version of the song in 1934 at Angola Prison for ethnomusicologists John and Alan Lomax, who mistakenly attributed it to him as the author. In their book, Best Loved American Folk Songs, they tell a credible story identifying the Midnight Special as a train from Houston, Texas shining its light into a cell in the Sugar Land Prison. The light of the train is seen as the light of salvation, the train which could take them away from the prison walls. That angle lends itself to the Gospel feeling of the song, as if it was sung in church rather than the work farm. PS. Harmonica. When you're ready for more from Creedence Clearwater Revival also check out "Down on the Corner", "Lodi", "Don't Look Now", "Proud Mary", "Green River", "Bad Moon Rising", and the eleven minute album version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Fire!
Omg, I love this so much. It's satisfies the most simple urge in me.
This is a great one for people to easily jam on and sing along. Check out their hit Lodi. Also, Hideaway, wow.
It was used in a movie called Cool Hand Luke. It is a prison movie and one of my favorites of all time.
Contains the iconic line: "What we have here, is a failure to communicate."
@@marshastapleton1148 I love that line and use it often.
There's a reason this song is used in a lot of movies that have a poor or fantastic theme to them because it just has that kind of tone that goes well with those type of films
This is a classic working man's song by Leadbelly. But what's great about CCR's version is that it's lovingly done, always a good one when I'm getting ready to go to work!
The Beatles were fans of Creedence.
lots of greats out there ace. check out howlin wolf. down in the bottom. smoke stack lighting. many more
I definitely see why you would think of Reggae for that part, but if you listen to it again, notice that it's essentially there early on as well. In fact I think it's just one more of those great clever CCR intros, where it's just voices and then you hear acoustic guitar and then you hear the bass guitar, and the drums hold off for a while, so that when they do come in it just profoundly changes the feeling of the song although the rhythm of it that is underlying was implied from the very beginning. But yeah, again late in the song, they take the drums out and let the bass and guitar just kind of slide up into their notes, and it gives it a kind of a reggae flavor for a bit.
Perfeita análise.
@alexandrealvesdomingos2918 😀 ❤️
I was just thinking a couple of days ago that I hoped someone would do this one.
Love them and other songd
Yes!!!! My Favorite by CCR😊
Great song, Ace. 😎
From the era: you also might like "One Last Cold Kiss" by Mountain on the album Flowers of Evil.
HARMONICA
❤
harmonica ?
The kazoo
Does this resonate with anyone: "You wanna see something really scary?"
In trouble with the man "the police"? Midnight special can be a reference to a gun, correct? This song has always confused me. "Midnight special shite an ever lovin' light on me"? Maybe I'm being to literal Per google "the Midnight Special" was a train and it's headlight would shine into cells.
That last part that you were interested in sounds like a train chugging slowly along to me. Maybe was meant to be?
Gee ,,, if I forgot the name "harmonica" or even "mouth organ" you would call me senile or afflicted by dementia or some other age-related neurological deficit ... WTAF 😁
I forget words all the time and I don't get called senile or demented because I can draw a clock. Sometimes words just aren't there.
Ladies and gentlemen....we have the perfect specimen in existence 🫤🫤🫤
None of their songs are original to them. Great singing & covers.
Please do SWEET HITCH HIKER and UP AROUND THE BEND by CCR next !