Midnight Special

Midnight Special is a folk blues written from the standpoint of someone in prison. There are many versions. My favorite is Creedence Clearwater Revival’s version (on YouTube, search for “Midnight Special CCR” if the link doesn’t work). As far as I know, none of the band members spent any time in prison or jail. Still, the song feels authentic. I wonder what prison, metaphorical or otherwise, they imagined themselves while singing the song. The studio version on Willy and the Poorboys (above) feels more authentic than the live version here. The latter pushes the beat rather than laying back behind the beat, a more blues sound.