About the Song

The song “(In the Midnight Hour)” was written and recorded by Wilson Pickett in 1965 and released on his album of the same name. It was Pickett’s first hit on Atlantic Records, reaching number one on the R&B charts and number 21 on the pop charts. The song has been covered by many artists, including The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, and Aretha Franklin.

Pickett was a soul singer with a powerful voice and a dynamic stage presence. He was born in Prattville, Alabama, in 1941, and began his musical career as a gospel singer. In the early 1960s, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and signed with Atlantic Records.

“(In the Midnight Hour)” is a classic soul song with a driving beat and catchy melody. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is waiting for his lover to come to him at midnight. The song is full of energy and excitement, and it has become a staple of soul music.

Pickett’s “(In the Midnight Hour)” is a timeless song that continues to be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a classic example of soul music at its best, and it is a testament to Pickett’s talent as a singer and songwriter.

Some additional details about the song and its impact:

  • “(In the Midnight Hour)” was written by Pickett and Steve Cropper, a guitarist and songwriter who was also a member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s.
  • The song was recorded at Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee.
  • The song’s distinctive horn riff was played by Wayne Jackson of the Memphis Horns.
  • “(In the Midnight Hour)” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
  • The song has been used in several films and television shows, including “The Blues Brothers” (1980), “Pulp Fiction” (1994), and “The Sopranos” (1999).

How Wilson "Wicked" Pickett was his own worst enemy

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Lyrics: In the Midnight Hour

I’m gonna wait till the midnight hour
That’s when my love tumbling down
I’m gonna wait till the midnight hour
When there’s nobody else aroundI’m gonna take you girl and hold you
And do all the things I told you
In the midnight hour…

I’m gonna hold you in my arms
And see that twinkle in your eye
I’m gonna wait till the midnight hour
That’s when my love begins to shine

You’re the only girl I love
Yeah and I love you so
In the midnight hour…

I’m gonna wait till the midnight hour
That’s when my love tumbling down
I’m gonna wait till the midnight hour
When there’s nobody else around

I’m gonna hold you in my arms
In the midnight hour…

You Missed

Dolly Parton turned a simple handmade coat into one of the most powerful songs of her life because to her, it was never really about the fabric. “Coat of Many Colors” sprang directly from Dolly’s growing-up years in East Tennessee. Her mother, Avie Lee, pieced the jacket together by sewing colorful rags the family already owned. Cash was mighty tight, so there was no running down to the store for brand-new clothes. Instead, Avie Lee took what was on hand and stitched together something warm for her little girl to wear. While the needle flew, she shared the Bible story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, turning an ordinary piece of clothing into something special in Dolly’s eyes. Proudly wearing that coat to school, Dolly felt rich, but the other kids saw it differently. They laughed at the patches and teased her for having so little. Years down the road, Dolly penned those childhood memories into “Coat of Many Colors.” Released in 1971, the tune became a shining example of why her songwriting touched so many souls. She never tried to hide hard times or dress up her youth to look prettier than it was. She simply laid the sting of teasing side-by-side with the deep love that stitched the coat together, letting that honest truth speak for itself. The song eventually grew far beyond that original vinyl record. Its spirit inspired the 2015 television movie Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, followed by Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love the very next year. Those films opened a window into Dolly’s mountain home, introducing folks to the hardworking parents and siblings who shaped her long before the bright lights found her. By then, Dolly had worn glittering stage gowns worth more than her family could ever have dreamed. Yet the garment folks remember best remains that humble little coat stitched by a mother’s loving hands when buying something new simply wasn’t in the cards. That is why the memory stayed alive. The scraps faded away, but the lesson underneath never did.