CF
He was the black sheep of the family
CF
How did mama’s pride and joy
CF
Go from such a precious baby
G
To the devil’s poster boy
CF
I’m gonna slick my hair like Elvis
CF
Roll my cuffs like Jerry Lee
CF
If the backbeat’s born in hell
G
Then that’s the place I want to be
FC
Gonna be a midnight rider
FC
Gonna burn my candle down
FC
Followin that drivin’ beat
DmF
To the dark side of town
CF
From the barrooms of Deep Ellum
CF
To the crashpads on the bay
CF
He spiraled slow and steady
G
Down a lonely blue hiway
CF
I’m gonna chase my beer with whiskey
CF
Stick a needle in my skin
CF
Gonna celebrate the mystery
G
Of the hole I’ve fallen in
FC
‘Cause I’m a midnite rider
FC
Gonna burn my candle down
FC
Followin’ that drivin’ beat
DmF
To the dark side of town
CF
He loved that funky music
CF
He knew the backroad scenes
CF
Every barbeque and blues band
G
Between here and New Orleans
CF
He put down the bottle
CF
October ‘89
CF
Eased up on the throttle
G
bought him a little time
FC
But he was a midnite rider
FC
He burned that candle down
FC
Hangin’ out on easy does it street
DmF
On the dark side of town
CF
Big Al settled down
CF
Along the banks of Onion creek
CF
With a pickup and a hound dog
G
And a little lucky streak
CF
He nursed that fragile frame
CF
Through the hurricanes and drought
CF
It was a summer wind that came
G
And blew the candle out
FC
But he was a midnite rider
FC
He burned that candle down
FC
Followin that drivin’ beat
DmF
To the dark side of town
FC
Oh you midnite rider
FC
I know you’re still around
FC
Hangin’ out on easy street
Dm
On the dark side of town
End:
FC
On the dark side of town
This arrangement for the song is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song. You may only use this for private study, scholarship, or research.