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‘Midnight Special’ LEADBELLY (1940) Blues Guitar Legend
20 thoughts on “‘Midnight Special’ LEADBELLY (1940) Blues Guitar Legend”
Posted On in Blues Guitar with 20 Comments.
I was curious… but why was he sent to sugarland for that long of a time?
I know that he accidentally shot his friend after getting in to a drunk fight
why was the extra time added to his sentence?
(
thank you for telling that to me,My friend..I;’ve always wondered what he was singing about
I am partial to the Jean Shepard version where her man is being sent off "to Atlanta, to serve ten to a score", and she’s waiting for the light of the train to know her man is getting out of prison
the original version speaks volumes……don’t get me wrong, the famouse remake rocks, but this version speaks to my soul<3
if the light shined on you it meant that the Governor signed a pardon for your release, usually the pardon petition was instigated on the prisnor’s behalf by his wife……….the practice is still done to this day, Gov. Haley Barbour of MS signing of multiple pardons is a good example but the media usually doesn’t criticize the tradition unless they have an agenda
over production makes me want to vomit…. great song poor example
Leadbelly was sent to sugarland prison farm ( chiaingang) in Houston for a qustioable murder… ( he got 30 years)
wasn’t Leadbelly sent to Sugarland prison farm ( chainganr) in texas for 30 years?
very interesting!
Yes please.
the legend also said that if the midnight special shined its light on you ,your wife was on the train with a pardon from the governor and you would be set free that day
Hahah for sure
I though tthis song talks about his arrest in Houston and his stay in Sugar Land prison in 1925.
Maybe. But the legend about the midnight special train is about Parchman Penitentiary in Mississippi. There are detailed descriptions of it. Teabagwell comment is correct. Look that up.
look that up
sorry but he didt time texas prison system i.e. reference to houston tx
the mark of truly great music. something for everyone.
Consider the quality of recording in late ’20 and early ’30; and by then his throat was already cut by a jealous man, a prostitute or his wife (history about these legends can be a little blurry). However, I personally do not need to understand the lyrics. His voice and picking are so eloquently full of emotions. I suggest you listen to ‘Oh Death’ recorded 3 month before his death. His and Bertha’s voices tell a very clear, universal story, even if we can not understand the lyrics
Yeah, Lecbelluy played the bluse real well.
feel it! still relevant now, after all these years