Alan Jackson – Midnight in Montgomery

“Midnight in Montgomery” is a song written by American country music singer Alan Jackson and Don Sampson, and recorded by Jackson. It was released in April 1992 as the fourth single from Jackson’s second album, Don’t Rock the Jukebox. The song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart (the album’s only single not to top the chart), and number 3 as well on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

This song was written about Hank Williams, who was from Montgomery, Alabama. It is a mid-tempo, largely acoustic ballad in the key of D minor.

The singer, while heading to Mobile for a New Year’s Eve show, makes a visit to a Montgomery grave (Williams died on New Year’s Day 1953, and is buried in Montgomery), and encounters the ghost of Williams who thanks him for paying tribute before disappearing. The song also references several Williams hits, including “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” The song ends with the words “Hank’s always singing there”.

From the album Don’t Rock the Jukebox
B-side “Working Class Hero”
Released April 20, 1992
Recorded August 21, 1990
Genre Country
Length 3:46
Label Arista 12418
Songwriter(s) Alan Jackson Don Sampson
Producer(s) Scott Hendricks Keith Stegall

Alan Jackson – Midnight in Montgomery Lyrics

Midnight in Montgomery, silver eagle, lonely road
I was on my way to Mobile, for a big New Year’s Eve show
I stopped for just a minute, to see a friend outside of town
Put 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
Wearing shiny boots, a Nudi suit, and haunting haunted eyes
He said friend it’s good to see you, it’s nice to know you care
Then the wind picked up and he was gone, was he ever really there

‘Cause it’s midnight in Montgomery, just hear that whippoorwill
See the stars light up the purple sky, feel that lonesome chill
‘Cause when the wind is right, you’ll hear his songs, smell whiskey in the air
Midnight in Montgomery, he’s always singing there

Well I climbed back on that eagle, took one last look around
Through red tail lights, the shadow moved slow across the ground
And off somewhere a midnight train is slowly passing by
I could hear that whistle moan, I’m so lonesome I could cry

‘Cause it’s midnight in Montgomery, just hear that whippoorwill
And see the stars light up the purple sky, feel that lonesome chill
‘Cause when the wind is right, you’ll hear his songs, smell whiskey in the air
Midnight in Montgomery, he’s always singing there
He’s always singing there, Hank’s always singing there