"Midnight Special" is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South.The song refers to the passenger train Midnight Special and its "ever-loving light" (sometimes "ever-living light"). The song is historically performed in the country-blues style from the viewpoint of the prisoner and has been performed by many artists. The first RECORDED in print by Howard Odum in 1905. wiki

@thedealer777

Жыл бұрын

AMEN, Brother!!

@michaelryan2433

Жыл бұрын

I have an old book by Odum called “ Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder”where he takes an artistic viewpoint to tell a story about the early days when the blues as a musical form was emerging.

@abelrodriguez66

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ken I've always had other ways of thinking of it.but now I know.cool!!

@taperk1299

Жыл бұрын

It became more popular with the introduction of the 78rpm records. Everything was labeled "race records" or "hillbilly music". Big Bill Broonzy recorded it several times from the 20's to the 50's. My favorites are his later solo ones but this is his earliest from the 20's - kzread.info/dash/bejne/qoeDqbCnYKyTgLw.html

@robertreichle1

Жыл бұрын

Sounds similar in theme to Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues." Hearing that train and wishing it could take you to a better place.

The guy is in prison. He got busted down in Huston. Now he's in prison, working on a chain gang. That's where prisoners were chained together for heavy labor outside. The Midnight Special is a train running past the prison, a symbol of freedom. That's what it's about.

@ronaldstokes4841

Жыл бұрын

Many prison songs had a line where they heard a train whistle at night... to them a sound of freedom.

@derekgiesbrecht1554

Жыл бұрын

love it man, so accurate, makes sense

I read that The Midnight Special was a train that passed through a state prison. The light from the train would light up some of the prison cells There was a superstition that if the light shined on you it meant you would be freed from the prison.

@davidgollop2807

Жыл бұрын

That's what I heard.

@tefalhead7396

Жыл бұрын

@@davidgollop2807 The drums sound like a train chugging along ( at least to me anyway )

@morrisheinersz2005

Жыл бұрын

A train line runs or ran through Ossining Prison (Sing Sing) in upstate New York. The song didn't originate there though. The Midnight Special ran near a prison, and at night the prisoners would see it's lights and dream of escaping and hopping onto that train. It meant escape, in that version.

@Code9

Жыл бұрын

Yup, that's the story I heard, too, way back in the early 60s when I learned the song from an obscure folk duo called "The Other Singers" who used to play the folk circuit in the East Village, NY.

@derekgiesbrecht1554

Жыл бұрын

More interesting background

Haven't heard this song in over 15 years. Forgot just how good a song it is and how damn soulful John Fogerty sounds.

The Midnight Special is an old folk song and the name of a train that went by a prison and its light shined into the prison cells. There are quite a few versions of this song throughout the years. The TV show came way after this song originated. The TV show came on late at night after the late night talk show, The Tonight Show, with Johnny Carson. I always thought that was why they named the show the Midnight Special.

Someone is GLOWING. Lex looks good too,,,,,🤣🤣🤣👍

I love it when you guys are so far off base about a song. Your innocence is adorable.

@tonyh9875

Жыл бұрын

"Waffle House" set a new standard though!!

@Code9

Жыл бұрын

I know, right? Brad is like, "Uh... I dunno." And Lex, well she's just so freakin' adorable she can say anything, doesn't matter what, and it's all good with me. Sorry, Brad. I'm just sayin'. You lucked out big time, dude. LOL

@jenniferjacobs228

Жыл бұрын

i almost with it was about something else..hahaha

@derekgiesbrecht1554

Жыл бұрын

It's about gettin me some pancakes"

@sharonmullins1957

4 ай бұрын

They are young, and so sweet.

You wake up in the morning, you hear the work bell ring. Prisoners were woken early in the morning by the work bell. They then received their meager breakfast but it contained no pork in the pan. Rosie was the wife, going to see the warden, perhaps a letter of character recommendations in her hand to try to convince the Governor or warden to release her husband. After the Civil War, slavery was abolished and no one could be forced to work without pay UNLESS they had been convicted of a crime and sentenced to at least 10 years. At that point they could be forced to work for the state or county and also rented out to businesses. It was a widespread practice to arrest young black men for minor or made up crimes, sentence them to 10 years or more and keep them in virtual slavery.

First time I was aware of this song was watching Twilight Zone The Movie (1983) prologue when Dan Akroyd asks Albert Brooks if he ever watched the Twilight Zone.

@davewhitmore1958

Жыл бұрын

"Wanna see something REALLY scary?"

@diab01us

Жыл бұрын

I had heard the song before but it still reminds me of that movie scene.

@diab01us

Жыл бұрын

@@davewhitmore1958 NO!

@Atomykpimp

Жыл бұрын

It was the first time I heard Midnight Special as well sitting in the theater with my Dad. I was also unaware of the tragedy tied to the movie as well until after I saw it. R.I.P. to all those that lost their lives in that tragic accident.

The midnight special was a train that ran past a prison. He wasn’t “working “ , he was locked up. 🔐

@rogerwitte

Жыл бұрын

The song was first recorded by Leadbelly in the 30s' but there's evidence of the lyric going back even further

@sjw5797

Жыл бұрын

He's on chain gang.

I feel that lex really feels the music it just flows through her she feels every note she is amazing Brad is a lucky guy

@randallphobia8698

Жыл бұрын

Agreed Lex gets the feel of CCR, & I love her for that.

@mcchicken5039

Жыл бұрын

​@@randallphobia8698 yeah Creedence Clearwater is like one of those bands that you gotta hear for a while till it grows on you and when it does. Every song you heard sounds so different then what it used to. You realize they're not like other bands and have something that makes em different but in a good way.

You guys should react to more Creedence Clearwater Revival… "Susie Q", "Run Through the Jungle", "Sweet Hitch Hiker", "Someday Never Comes", "Hey Tonight", "Commotion", "Long As I Can See The Light" 🎸🤘

@dt1064

Жыл бұрын

Long versions

@Reclining_Spuds

Жыл бұрын

I'll add "Lodi" 👍

@andrewyoung2796

Жыл бұрын

My two favs. Green River. And looking out my backdoor

@richardbailey1295

Жыл бұрын

@@Reclining_Spuds I'll second that add

@texaslarry1048

Жыл бұрын

and "Lodi"

the Midnight Special TV show was named after this song, which existed as far back as the late 1800's.

Brad & Lex, you'll love their "Suzie Q" and "Long as I Can See the Light"!!

@timothycook2917

Жыл бұрын

They already did Green River last month

Its high time you listened to CCR's "Long as I can see the Light" - its their best song in a great catalogue of songs!

Midnight Special" is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South.[1] The song refers to the passenger train Midnight Special and its "ever-loving light"

It was the opening song for the show The Midnight Special, but it was about being put in prison, the train that went pass the prison was the Midnight Special.

The song is about Prison. Listen to the lyrics closely. The "Midnight Special" refers to the train that runs late at night. The lights from the train would shine through the prison bars.

My favorite CCR song & watching Lex bopping and swaying.

Always thought this CCR version was their best recording if not among the top five. It just swings, the harmonies just great, Fogerty put his soul in it, and it changes styles [from swing beat to straight a couple times] for variety. The intro duction is just superior, haunting, like Fogerty meant every word of it. you could play this over and over and NEVER get tired of it.

One of the greatest covers of folk music 🙂

John Fogerty. Thank goodness he made so much great Rock music grounded in blues and Americana world music. He always keep it real. John is a war veteran of the US Army in Vietnam and a real guitar hero. Peace and love.

@BobSoltis1

Жыл бұрын

John never went to Vietnam. He was a reservist and stayed stateside.

"Keep on Chooglin" is a real good jam along with "Ramble Tamble"!! You won't be disappointed!!

That's a Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter song. It's about a man in prison who wants to be on the Midnight Special out of there. There are dozens of verses that have been added to the song over the years by different singers.

Since this song was popularized by the African American artist known as "lead belly" way back in the 40s, and ccr also cover his song "cotton fields"( which should be your next reaction) from the same album(willie and the poor boys) perhaps you could react to some of his most famous songs covered by some of the biggest names in rock ,blues artists. Although he might not have writing some of them he did popularized them and brought them to to main steam. The most well known by Lead belly are led zeppelin Gallows pole; Where did you sleep last night nirvana; And Black betty by ram jam.

@Mr_Dopey

Жыл бұрын

After that they should check out Woody Guthrie.

@CANDOKNOWHOW

Жыл бұрын

Lead Belly is a Juggernaut of the Blues!

@madmann5373

Жыл бұрын

@@CANDOKNOWHOWMOST famous blues man that almost no one has heard of!!🍁🇨🇦💗

@fkthelefties

Жыл бұрын

They should know that, thats why these reviews are fake as fk.

@BobSoltis1

Жыл бұрын

@@CANDOKNOWHOW And was a terribly violent man who was imprisoned multiple times. He liked to stab people. He killed one man and nearly killed another two in various fights.

Go ahead Lex, this song can be about whatever you want it to be. 👍

Pagan Baby from Creedence is one of the best Rock Song

Lex is Always talking about food......BRAD FEED HER! Alway every song....Food Food Food!!!

Love that reverb ! Loved cruising to this song in my 1964 Plymouth Belvedere Convertible ! Some great times for sure !

Great song from one of my favorite groups. I love their sound and vibe.

OMG.....I was today yrs old when I learned they sang this song!!!!

Andy Griffith plays this song on an Andy Griffith show episode. Does it justice too. CCR always brings it.

I think I saw Brad almost move to the rhythm!

The song itself predates this recording of it, they're covering an old folk song. And, this recording predates the TV show by the same name. Another cover of this song, by Johnny Rivers, was used as the opening theme for the show. The show was on Friday nights at midnight, so it's name also fit the time slot. The TV show Midnight Special was one of the two "efforts" by major networks to support rock music in the 70's. The other show being the "In Concert" series. Rock that wasn't also a pop success seldom got much exposure from media in those days, particularly TV, so these shows were significant for that reason. For once, you got to see actual rock bands perform (and not lip sync). On TV. I watched both shows as much as I could.

i love watching you two! the expressions on lex's face are so honest and pure. i really wish i knew you two. when i get lonesome i watch you to

Unique this song is.. A Rock song I believe back in the day was played on a Country Weatern Radio Station. This and Cotton Field are truly two songs from them that go into both musical categories

Yes Brad you're right; there was a show in the 70s called The midnight special that featured popular rock groups and artists at the time but that is not what the song is about

DAMN DID YA BOTH GET THIS ONE WRONG. Lyrics were obvious. Congrats with the incoming little one, so cool!

@HollerMa71

Жыл бұрын

I've noticed that they both tend to take lyrics a bit too literally. I really think it's a generational thing. Back in the day (I'm a Gen X) we had to interpret lyrics more. And certainly farther back that that! Most songs these days tend to just put it all out there in plain language. It's as if the ART has been removed from the art of songwriting. Not to mention movies, TV, etc

@smilinjoe8571

Жыл бұрын

With the title card I figured they would make some strange guess rather than taking a second to look it up.

The guy is in prison. His woman went to the judge to make a deal to get her man out. The midnight special is a train. A train to freedom, perhaps?

Talkin bout prison, midnight special is a train

I’ve heard this song performed by many bands, I always thought this was by far the best version musically

One of my All Time Favorite CCR Songs!

One of my fave CCR songs! ♥

The Singer's part of a Chain Gang (Convicts), The "Midnight Special" was what they called the Transportation that took freed Prisoners to the nearest Town..

You making me hungry Lex 😆if you want a song about food, try ZZ Top's 'TV Dinners'. But yeah, this is more serious than Waffle House.

And there’s that Smile, you knows she likes it!!!!!

Lmao 🤣😂🤣😂 there is are little mother thinking about food, when someone is singing about a prison transport. 😂

Lex is glowing today. Beautiful!

@kferro

Жыл бұрын

Today?

@tahliasgoddaddy

Жыл бұрын

Yes. Lex is always beautiful, but I noticed she's almost glowing with a contented appearance. Then I check out their Vlog and lo and behold, Lex is with child. Glow explained.

Lex es agradable ver cómo sientes la musica de CCR, te extremece hasta lis huesos cómo a mi

respectfully i find it entertaining you guys have listened to so much rock-blues-folk yet still have rather simplistic understanding of it

@jackndew2

Жыл бұрын

I agree, sometimes I don't know where they go in their interpretations. It's funny yet disappointing at the same time.

@GregNickoloff

Жыл бұрын

@@jackndew2 They're very literal in their interpretations. Back in the day most of us weren't. All good, just a different style.

@fkthelefties

Жыл бұрын

@@jackndew2 its because the reviews are fake. Sometimes, they're not good hiding how much they dont like the music.

Glad you guys like this song, it's another favourite of mine. Thank you for reacting to this awesome song 🙏🏾✝️😘☮️💖💯...

Folk singer Lead Belly recorded this song in 1940, making it famous 29 years before CCR recorded it. CCR also recorded Cotton Fields, a song the Lead Belly wrote himself and recorded in 1940. As mentioned in other comments, The Midnight Special is a folk song sung by prisoners who believed that light from the headlight of a passing train at midnight falling on a prisoner meant that the prisoner would soon be freed. There was a weekly late night TV show called The Midnight Special that featured live musical performances by top bands and singers. It used the Johnny Rivers version of The Midnight Special as its theme song.

Favorite band of all time. I like a ton of others but if I’m cruisin’, it’s to CCR and other southern rock.

F*K YEAH!! GOT THAT ONE HERE ON VINYL. BEEN LISTENING FOR 44 YEARS! GREAT SHOW GUYS. HELLO FROM BROOKFIELD NOVA SCOTIA CANADA!

Brad you a lucky lucky man. Lex you’re a wonderful person and so beautiful. So carefree Lex, you remind me of the 1960’s and 1970’s hippie girls. Beautiful!

Bert Sugarman's Midnight Special was the ONLY show on television after midnight on Saturday night. That's power baby.

midnight special..is a train, deep down in the south...the story is about black prisoners in prison..originally written by an ex con...i cant remember his name...but he was a famous black blues musician back in the day!!

OMC "How Bizarre" (Official Music Video A MUST!!)...Nuff Said.

The light of a midnight train shinning on the prison cells windows as it passes by.....coming and going to places they can't!

This song always reminds me of Twilight Zone: The Movie. “You wanna see something really scary?”

@melaniesweeten5401

Жыл бұрын

That's where I first heard it. Now it always conveys a creepy vibe to me, thanks to that scary opening to the film.

CONGRATULATIONS BRAD AND LEX!

Hey Brad and Lex, a friend of mine that I played guitars with could do a number of CCRs' songs! This is one of those that got played a lot at outdoor parties ( tell Brad) out in the Country! Several girls, one in particular, could really dance to this style of music and usually barefooted! Great reaction!

There's no late night food in this song. It's a prison song.

There is a great scene in The Twilight Zone movie with Dan Aykroyd that they play this song too

I really like this version but you should check out Leadbelly's as well.

its about angola in louisiana. back then they released people from angola (for the longest time you could never leave, even dead) but i digress, when you were in the release coridor you got moved one cell down the closer you got to your release date. the railroad went right by there and one of the trains would shine its light through the window and when you saw the light you were about home free. the name of the train was "the midnight special"

Wolf Man Jack ran a show called The Midnight Special, back in the '70s.

Love me some CCR. Can;t go wrong with any of their stuff. it's ALL Amazing

That might be CCR's best song. Love it! Thanks, cats.

In this version of the song, the singer is a prisoner in Texas and the Midnight Special is a train that comes by the prison.

Waiting for LEX’S midnight special trips to the fridge for dill pickles and ice cream😁

yes there was a midnight special show..loved it..

CCR is the best American group of all-time, along with The Beach Boys and The Doors, and The Four Seasons. John Forgerty is one of the top 10 singer /songwriters ever.

@lantose

Жыл бұрын

Those are great bands I grew up with, but “The Dan” really can’t be beat either!

@patriciakern-butler732

Жыл бұрын

And Aerosmith

You should react the live version of CCR "Tombstone Shadow"

This song has been around since the 20s or 30s. It is not about the TV show or the waffle house lol.It is written from the perspective of a man in prison or prison camp. It has been recorded by a number of people many of whom added or deleted verses. Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (country music stars back when) had a version that made the billboard charts. Before them Leadbelly had a recording of it.

It's a cover of an old prison work song. Pretty sure Leadbelly did an earlier version. More Creedence please guys.

This was in the Twilight Zone movie.

And the cravings begin!

One of m fav CCR tunes.

CCR always delivers.

Saludos Lex siempre feliz y bailando al ritmo de Creedence

🔥 Oh man. Classic. Love this

For me that special we used to call dumpster dining back in the day when fast food restaurants would cook everything in advance and throw it all away so that was our midnight special

Yep. Midnight Special hosted by Wolfman Jack. A lot of classic songs played on that show.

The TV show was on at midnight on Saturday nights and it was named after this song, not the other way around.

One of favorites by CCR. Damn now I feel old. Lol. ❤️🙏🕊️🕊️

Hi Brad and Lex. My favourite CCR song that I often sing at Karaoke is 'Bad Moon Rising' and I see you've done a video on that too, which I will check out. I really need to get some sleep though... As for this song, I'm more familiar with a faster version that I remember hearing at family parties. I had to Google it and was so surprised to see that faster version was done by the amazing ABBA from Sweden. Try that version to see what you think. Æx 🙏

The nationally syndicated program called midnight special Featured many rock and roll Group groups in the 70s It was standard Good And it's conception And Always had it's finger on the post of the country as far as rock music was concerned! Now in reference to CCR and the midnight special It's talking about a woman Whose husband is in prisonHear the bell ring The prisoners would have to wake up In march to the table to get their meals You can't complain you gotta eat what's put before you or you get in trouble with the man the warden

The first version I heard of this song was from Leadbelly, he was in prison for murder. But a lot of early blues songs came out of traditional folk and work songs.

The story I heard is this is a song by Leadbelly when he was in prison The midnight special was a train that would come by of course around midnight and it's light would shine into the prison

My favorite ccr track ever!

Awesome... such a nice groove.

This song was done in the movie Twilight Zone, the Dan Aykroyd scene at the beginning.

Never have I ever heard anyone give that interpretation on the Midnight Special being grabbing some late night food 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣truly unique outlook!

In the 1969 movie: Cool Hand Luke the prisoners sang this song to themselves. I wonder if John Fogerty of CCR saw the movie first or the movie makers heard CCR's version first. Or like the following comment said it was popular throughout the prison community in the south for years. And of course the Midnight Special was a special train route that went through town in the middle of the night.

This song preceded the show "Midnight Special" from the 70s. It refers to luck of the draw. Let there be some food in the pan, or some other good things in life. He is basically saying" bless me lord". The show had not been thought of yet.

@mikefetterman6782

Жыл бұрын

The song was derived or inspired by the church hymn, Shine a light.

@mikefetterman6782

Жыл бұрын

CCR is mostly a 60s band, (late 60s) the midnight special show was later. I would say the SHOW TITLE was inspired by THIS SONG.

Lex bella eres disfrutando a CCR

Midnight Special was a train passing the prison and it was believed that if the light shone on you that you could soon get parole. A hope amongst prisoners

Maestro Fresh Wes - Let Your Backbone Slide

Love this track