v.1
Well, you wake up in the mornin'
You hear the work bell ring
Now I'm marchin' to the table
To see the same old thing

Ain't no food upon the table
Ain't no work-up in the pan
But you better not complain, boy
You'll 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 ever-lovin light on me

v.2
Yonder come Miss Rosie
How in the world did you know
By the way she wear her apron
And the clothes she wore

Umbrella on her shoulder
Piece of paper in her hand
She come to see the Governor
She want to free her man

Rpt. Ch.

v.3
If you're in Mercer County
Boy, you better do it right
You better not gamble
No, you better not fight

Say you been travellin'
An' the boys'll bring you down
The next thing you know, boy
Aw, you're prison bound

Rpt. Ch.