Folk, Blues

Midnight Special Chords

Lead Belly Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 2 min read

Gtap to play

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Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Lead Belly’s classic folk and blues song about a train bringing hope to prisoners. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a steady, relaxed strum to mimic the rhythm of a train.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Yonder comes Miss Rosie, how in the world do you know?

G D

Well, I know her by her apron and the dress she wears

G C

Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand

G D

Well, I heard her tell the captain, “I want my man”

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 2

G C

When you get up in the mornin’ when that big bell ring

G D

You go a-marchin’ to the table, you see the same damn thing

G C

Knife and fork are on the table, there’s nothin’ in my pan

G D

And if you say a thing about it, you’re in trouble with the man

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 3

G C

If you ever go to Houston, well, you better walk right

G D

Well, you better not stagger and you better not fight

G C

Sheriff Benson will arrest you, he will carry you down

G D

You can bet your bottom dollar, you’re penitentiary bound

Chorus

[G]Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [C]light on [G]me
Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [D]light on [G]me
[/verse]

Practice tip: Master the G to C and G to D transitions, as they are the core of the song’s progression.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Lead Belly’s classic folk and blues song about a train bringing hope to prisoners. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a steady, relaxed strum to mimic the rhythm of a train.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Yonder comes Miss Rosie, how in the world do you know?

G D

Well, I know her by her apron and the dress she wears

G C

Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand

G D

Well, I heard her tell the captain, “I want my man”

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 2

G C

When you get up in the mornin’ when that big bell ring

G D

You go a-marchin’ to the table, you see the same damn thing

G C

Knife and fork are on the table, there’s nothin’ in my pan

G D

And if you say a thing about it, you’re in trouble with the man

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 3

G C

If you ever go to Houston, well, you better walk right

G D

Well, you better not stagger and you better not fight

G C

Sheriff Benson will arrest you, he will carry you down

G D

You can bet your bottom dollar, you’re penitentiary bound

Chorus

[G]Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [C]light on [G]me
Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [D]light on [G]me
[/verse]

Practice tip: Master the G to C and G to D transitions, as they are the core of the song’s progression.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Lead Belly’s classic folk and blues song about a train bringing hope to prisoners. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a steady, relaxed strum to mimic the rhythm of a train.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Yonder comes Miss Rosie, how in the world do you know?

G D

Well, I know her by her apron and the dress she wears

G C

Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand

G D

Well, I heard her tell the captain, “I want my man”

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 2

G C

When you get up in the mornin’ when that big bell ring

G D

You go a-marchin’ to the table, you see the same damn thing

G C

Knife and fork are on the table, there’s nothin’ in my pan

G D

And if you say a thing about it, you’re in trouble with the man

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 3

G C

If you ever go to Houston, well, you better walk right

G D

Well, you better not stagger and you better not fight

G C

Sheriff Benson will arrest you, he will carry you down

G D

You can bet your bottom dollar, you’re penitentiary bound

Chorus

[G]Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [C]light on [G]me
Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [D]light on [G]me
[/verse]

Practice tip: Master the G to C and G to D transitions, as they are the core of the song’s progression.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Lead Belly’s classic folk and blues song about a train bringing hope to prisoners. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a steady, relaxed strum to mimic the rhythm of a train.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Yonder comes Miss Rosie, how in the world do you know?

G D

Well, I know her by her apron and the dress she wears

G C

Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand

G D

Well, I heard her tell the captain, “I want my man”

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 2

G C

When you get up in the mornin’ when that big bell ring

G D

You go a-marchin’ to the table, you see the same damn thing

G C

Knife and fork are on the table, there’s nothin’ in my pan

G D

And if you say a thing about it, you’re in trouble with the man

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 3

G C

If you ever go to Houston, well, you better walk right

G D

Well, you better not stagger and you better not fight

G C

Sheriff Benson will arrest you, he will carry you down

G D

You can bet your bottom dollar, you’re penitentiary bound

Chorus

[G]Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [C]light on [G]me
Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [D]light on [G]me
[/verse]

Practice tip: Master the G to C and G to D transitions, as they are the core of the song’s progression.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Lead Belly’s classic folk and blues song about a train bringing hope to prisoners. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a steady, relaxed strum to mimic the rhythm of a train.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Yonder comes Miss Rosie, how in the world do you know?

G D

Well, I know her by her apron and the dress she wears

G C

Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand

G D

Well, I heard her tell the captain, “I want my man”

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 2

G C

When you get up in the mornin’ when that big bell ring

G D

You go a-marchin’ to the table, you see the same damn thing

G C

Knife and fork are on the table, there’s nothin’ in my pan

G D

And if you say a thing about it, you’re in trouble with the man

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 3

G C

If you ever go to Houston, well, you better walk right

G D

Well, you better not stagger and you better not fight

G C

Sheriff Benson will arrest you, he will carry you down

G D

You can bet your bottom dollar, you’re penitentiary bound

Chorus

[G]Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [C]light on [G]me
Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [D]light on [G]me
[/verse]

Practice tip: Master the G to C and G to D transitions, as they are the core of the song’s progression.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Lead Belly’s classic folk and blues song about a train bringing hope to prisoners. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a steady, relaxed strum to mimic the rhythm of a train.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Yonder comes Miss Rosie, how in the world do you know?

G D

Well, I know her by her apron and the dress she wears

G C

Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand

G D

Well, I heard her tell the captain, “I want my man”

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 2

G C

When you get up in the mornin’ when that big bell ring

G D

You go a-marchin’ to the table, you see the same damn thing

G C

Knife and fork are on the table, there’s nothin’ in my pan

G D

And if you say a thing about it, you’re in trouble with the man

Chorus

G C G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

D G

Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ light on me

Verse 3

G C

If you ever go to Houston, well, you better walk right

G D

Well, you better not stagger and you better not fight

G C

Sheriff Benson will arrest you, he will carry you down

G D

You can bet your bottom dollar, you’re penitentiary bound

Chorus

[G]Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [C]light on [G]me
Let the Midnight Special shine her ever-lovin’ [D]light on [G]me
[/verse]

Practice tip: Master the G to C and G to D transitions, as they are the core of the song’s progression.