Looking for Words

Odetta, the “voice of the civil rights movement”, an inspiration to Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin, died in hospital in New York yesterday at the age of 77, says the New York Times. Here she is singing The Midnight Special. Doesn’t she sound magnificent? As good as John Fogerty of Clearwater Creedence Revival?

The Midnight Special

Well, you wake up in the mornin, you hear the work bell ring,
And they march you to the table to see the same old thing.
Ain’t no food upon the table, and no pork up in the pan.
But you better not complain, boy, you get in trouble with the man.

Chorus:
Let the midnight special shine a light on me,
Let the midnight special shine a light on me,
Let the midnight special shine a light on me,
Let the midnight special shine a everlovin’ light on me.

Yonder come Miss Rosie, how in the world did you know?
By the way she wears her apron, and the clothes she wore.
Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand;
She come to see the govnor, she wants to free her man.

Chorus
Let the midnight special shine a light on me,
Let the midnight special shine a light on me,
Let the midnight special shine a light on me,
Let the midnight special shine a everlovin’ light on me.

If you’re ever in Houston, well, you better do the right;
You better not gamble, there, you better not fight, at all
Or the sheriff will grab ya and the boys will bring you down.
The next thing you know, boy, oh! you’re prison bound.

Chorus
Let the midnight special shine a light on me,
Let the midnight special shine a light on me,
Let the midnight special shine a light on me,
Let the midnight special shine a everlovin’ light on me.