Joe Henry

Midnight Special

Joe Henry


Tom: D

                         C
oh, wake up early in the morning
                   G
when the ding-dong rings
                 A
go walkin to the table
D                     G
    see the same damn thing
                        C
knife and fork upon the table
                         G
ain't but nothing in the pan
             A
say anything about it
D                         G   C  G
  get in trouble with the man


[Chorus]
            C
Oh, shine a light on
        G
shine a light on
                 A7
let the midnight special
          D                 G
shine its ever-loving light on me-ee
        C
shine a light on and it would be long
        G
shine a light on
                     A7
Oh, let the midnight special
          D                    G  C G
shine its ever-loving light on me


[Verse 2]
                 C
Yonder come miss Rosie,
                      G
how in the hell'd you know?
                       A
well i know her by her apron
D                   G
and the dress she wore
                C
Umbrella on her shoulder,
                      G
piece of paper in her hand;
                        A
She's come to tell the gov'nor,
D                  G  C G
  'set loose my man'


[Chorus]
            C
Oh, shine a light on
        G
shine a light on
                 A7
let the midnight special
          D                 G
shine its ever-loving light on me-ee
        C
shine a light on and it would be long
        G
shine a light on
                     A7
Oh, let the midnight special
          D                    G  C G
shine its ever-loving light on me


[Verse 3]
                   C
if you ever go to Houston,
                    G
Oh, you better walk right
                        A
you better not stagger, there,
D               G
you better not fight
                               C
or the police, the will arrest you
                        G
and they will carry you down
                       A
and the next thing you know is
D                     G  C  G
you're penitentiary bound


[Chorus]
            C
Oh, shine a light on
        G
shine a light on
                 A7
let the midnight special
          D                 G
shine its ever-loving light on me-ee
        C
shine a light on and it would be long
        G
shine a light on
                     A7
Oh, let the midnight special
          D                    G  C G
shine its ever-loving light on me


[Outro]
          C
oh-oh-oh, light on
          G
oh-oh-oh, light on
                     A7
oh, let the midnight special
          D                    G
shine its ever-loving light on me-ee
          C
oh-oh-oh, light on and it wouldn't be long
       G
little light on
                     A7
Oh, let the midnight special
          D                      G C G
shine its ever-loving light on me-ee