Woke up this morning, heard the whistle blow
The jailor said come boy, it's time to go
Big midnight special, shine your light on my
Big midnight special shine your everloving light on me

I've never had the blues so, in my life before
Till my baby left me at the station door
They put him in a pullman, guards around his door
Said, you off to Atlanta to serve ten years more

He looked all around him in the pullman car
Saw the men wearing clothe hats, smoking big cigars
Took him off in Atlanta, at the end of the line
Said, you start serving time, boy, for your awful crime

That whistle makes me lonesome on that midnight train
But he knows I'm a-waiting till it brings him home again