Gregg Allman Shines In Acoustic “Midnight Rider”, And Dickey Betts Is Unbelievable
You’ll Never Catch These Midnight Riders
Written in 1970, the Allman Brothers Band’s ‘Midnight Rider’ is widely regarded as the best thing Gregg Allman’s ever written, and for good reason: the perfect storm created by Allman’s desperate lyrics about a man on the run combined with the stunning musical arrangement makes for a song that’s as close to perfect as a song gets. The original release of ‘Midnight Rider’ heard on Idlewild South failed to chart, but it’s Gregg Allman’s solo version recorded in 1973 that’s become a thing of legend.
Fun Fact: Gregg Allman and roadie Kim Payne broke into Capricorn Sound Studios to record ‘Midnight Rider’.
By 1990, the band was still playing it religiously at live shows, but with a slight twist – they performed it as an acoustic arrangement!
This 1990 performance features Gregg Allman and guitarist Dickey Betts shining with band members Warren Haynes, Johnny Neel, Butch Trucks, Jaimoe and Allen Woody, and in an all-acoustic setting these seven are absolutely unstoppable together. Gregg may take the lead in terms of vocals, but it’s Dickey Betts whose guitar playing and soloing tie ‘Midnight Rider’ together beautifully, and blend almost flawlessly with the harmonies sung by Haynes, Neel and Woody!
+ Midnight Rider lyrics +
Well, I’ve got to run to keep from hidin’
And I’m bound to keep on ridin’
And I’ve got one more silver dollar
But I’m not gonna let ’em catch me, no
Not gonna let ’em catch the midnight rider
And I don’t own the clothes I’m wearing
And the road goes on forever
And I’ve got one more silver dollar
But I’m not gonna let ’em catch me, no
Not gonna let ’em catch the midnight rider
And I’ve gone by the point of caring
Some old bed I’ll soon be sharing
And I’ve got one more silver dollar
But I’m not gonna let ’em catch me, no
Not gonna let ’em catch the midnight rider
No, I’m not gonna let ’em catch me, no
Not gonna let ’em catch the midnight rider
No, I’m not gonna let ’em catch me, no
Not gonna let ’em catch the midnight rider
No, I’m not gonna let ’em catch me, no
Not gonna let ’em catch the midnight rider
