6144. Lead Belly - Midnight Special
From: The Midnight Special and other Southern Prison Songs ; Year: 1940; Genre: Blues/Folk Most probably are aware of this song from a plethora of recording artists over the last 70 or so years, but the version by Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter was among the first to popularize the song to a wide audience. The origins of the song are nebulous at best being that it was passed down from musician to musician with lyrics differing from one to the next for many years prior to Lead Belly recording his famous version; to say the least Midnight Special most likely originated in the 19th century in the southern U.S.. You just get the feeling of yearning and hope from this one from the perspective of a man incarcerated awaiting parole with the steam engine's headlamp lighting the cell giving comfort. Hear Midnight Special on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Teen Archer My song pick 2 years ago today: Triumph - Rock & Roll Machi...