THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
Traditional; arranged by by John Fogerty
performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival
tab transcribed by Collins Crapo
(initially, single, slow strums of each chord)
[Verse]
D G
Well, you wake up in the mornin'
D
You hear the work bell ring
A7
And they march you to the table
D
You see the same old thing
G
Ain't no food upon the table
D
And no fork up in the pan
A7
But you'd better not complain, boy
D
You'll get in trouble with the man
(now speed up tempo and strum continuously; all subsequent verses have
same pattern as chorus)
[CHORUS]
G
Let the midnight special
D
Shine the light on me
A7
Let the midnight special
D
Shine the light on me
G
Let the midnight special
D
Shine the light on me
A7
Let the midnight special
D
Shine the ever-lovin' light on me
[Verse 2]
D G
Yonder come Miss Rosie
D
How in the world did you know
A7
By the way she wears her apron
D
And the clothes she wore
G
Umbrella on her shoulder
D
Piece of paper in her hand
A7
She come to see the gov'nor
D
She wanna free her man
[CHORUS]
G
Let the midnight special
D
Shine the light on me
A7
Let the midnight special
D
Shine the light on me
G
Let the midnight special
D
Shine the light on me
A7
Let the midnight special
D
Shine the ever-lovin' light on me
[Verse 3]
D G
If you're ever in Houston
D
Ooh, you'd better do right
A7
You'd better not gamble
D
And you'd better not fight
G
Or the sheriff will grab ya
D
And the boys'll bring you down
A7
The next thing you know, boy
D
Ooh, you're prison-bound
(chorus twice; 2nd time, at last line, decelerate, with break at "light
on me," to final strum of D)