Midnight Special (Leadbetter) lyrics

Midnight Special (Leadbetter)

Yonder comes Miss Rosie, how in the world do you know
I can tell her by her apron and the dress that she wore
Umbrella on her shoulder, a piece of paper in her hand
I heard her tell the captain turn loose my man

Chorus: Let the midnight special shine it's light me
Oh, let the midnight special shine it's everlasting light on me

When you get up in the morning when that big bell rings
You go marching to the table, you see the same old thing
Knife and fork are on the table, ain't nothin in my pan
And you say a word about it you get in trouble with the man

If you ever go to Houston, boy, you'd better walk right
And you better not gamble, and you better not fight
'Cuz Benson Crocker will arrest you and Jimmy Boone will take you down
And you bet your bottom dollar that your Sugarland bound

Well, jumpin' little Judy, she was a mighty fine gal
She brought jumpin' to the whole round world
Well, she brought it in the morning just awhile before day
Well, she brought me the news that my wife was dead
That started me to grieven whoppin', hollerin' and cryin'
That started me to thinkin' 'bout my great long time

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an other version:
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Well you wake up in the morning
Hear the ding dong ring
You go a-marching to the table
See the same damn thing
Well, it's on a one table
Knife, a fork and a pan
And if you say anything about it
You're in trouble with the man

(chorus)
Let the midnight special
Shine her light on me
Let the midnight special
Shine her ever-loving light on me

If you ever go to Houston
You better walk right
You better not stagger
You better not fight
Sheriff Benson will arrest you
He'll carry you down
And if the jury finds you guilty
Penitentiary bound

Yonder come little Rosie
How in the world do you know
l can tell her by her apron
And the dress she wore
Umbrella on her shoulder
Piece of paper in her hand
She goes a-marching to the captain
Says, "I want my man."

"I don't believe that Rosie loves me"
"Well tell me why"
She ain't been to see me
Since las' July
She brought me little coffee
She brought me little tea
Brought me damn near ever'thing
But the jailhouse key

Yonder comes Doctor Adams
"How in the world do you know?"
Well he gave me a tablet
The day befo'
There ain't no doctor
In all the lan'
Can cure the fever
Of a convict man.