About The Song
The song was released in 1992 as part of Alan Jackson’s album “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” and it reached no. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Canada Country charts. The song was so fantastic that many musicians, even in the twenty-first century, still enjoyed covering it.
And one of those people is country artist Josh Turner, who covered the song on his album Country State of Mind in 2020. But the sentiment behind the lyrics makes this song so appealing to many country music fans.
Hank Williams Sr., also known as “the King of Country Music,” is known to be the inspiration behind the song.
According to some accounts, the song’s narrative began while Alan Jackson was traveling throughout the country, visiting radio stations to augment his musical inspirations for his album, and he ended up in Montgomery, Alabama. While he was there, he was able to recall that the famed and iconic Hank Williams Sr.’s body was laid in the said town.
Since he was already there, he decided to visit the icon’s grave. And let’s just say he felt something unusual in the air that night of his visit amid the stones. This incident sparked the idea for “Midnight in Montgomery.”
And if you saw the music video, which was directed by Jim Shea, you’ll notice that the entire video was in black and white, creating an ominous atmosphere. In addition, they had to film the said music video twice since there was a shadow in the first take that wasn’t meant to be there—making the song a bit eerie and exciting to listen to.
Video
Lyrics
Midnight in Montgomery
Silver eagle, lonely Road
Was on my way to Mobile
For a big New Year’s Eve show
And stopped for just a minute
To see a friend outside of town
With my collar up, I found his name
And felt the wind die down
And a drunk man in a cowboy hat
Took me by surprise
Wearin’ shiny boots, a nudie suit, and haunted, haunted eyes
He said, “Friend, it’s good to see you
It’s nice to know you care”
Then the wind picked up, he was gone
Was he ever really there?
‘Cause it’s midnight in Montgomery
Just hear that whip-poor-will
See the stars light up the purple sky
Feel that lonesome chill
‘Cause when the wind is right
You’ll hear his song
Smell whisky in the air
Midnight in Montgomery
He’s always singin’ there
Well, I climbed back on that eagle
Took one last look around
Red tail lights, shadow moves slow across the ground
And off somewhere a midnight train is slowly passin’ by
I can hear that wistle moan’
I’m so lonesome, I could cry
‘Cause it’s midnight in Montgomery
Just hear that whip-poor-will
See the stars light up the purple sky
Feel that lonesome chill
‘Cause when the wind is right
You’ll hear his song
Smell whisky in the air
Midnight in Montgomery
He’s always singin’ there
He’s always singin’ there
Well, Hank’s always singin’ there