3 former backing singers former backup singers for Ike & Tina Turner, then … Read Full Bio ↴3 former backing singers former backup singers for Ike & Tina Turner, then known as The Ikettes, became The Mirettes from 1966-1970. The Mirettes featured Venetta Fields who left the Ike & Tina Turner revue, along with fellow Ikettes: Jessie Smith and Robbie Montgomery. The trio signed to Mirwood Records and they formed as a way to break out from under Ike Turner's oppressive thumb. Unfortunately, despite a promising start, they were mired in legal problems, and even bullied and intimidated out of performing by Turner and his allies.

With Tina's sister Alline Bullock as their manager, the Ikettes left Ike and set up their own sixty-date tour. But Ike put restraining orders out and had people physically prevent them from going on stage. They tried billing themselves as "the Mirettes, formerly the Ikettes," but Ike would have nothing to do with it. Finally, they emerged as the Mirettes without any recognition of the popular act they had been only months earlier.

While no big hits followed, the Mirettes proved they didn’t need Ike to make great records. Their first single, the smooth and soulful "He’s Alright With Me," was released in 1966, on Mirwood Records, but it’s the Mirettes’ gritty version of "In The Midnight Hour," that R&B fans claim as their favourite. Still, without hit records or big-name recognition, money from touring was not as lucrative as returning to session work, and the Mirettes disbanded in1970.

Venetta Fields went on to acclaim as a desirable studio backing vocalist, touring with Humble Pie and Pink Floyd, and appearing in the 1976 film A Star is Born as one of Barbara Streisand's two backing singers (The Oreos)

In the Midnight Hour
The Mirettes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm gonna wait
'Til that midnight hour,
When when my love
Comes tumblin' down.

I'm gonna wait
'Til that midnight hour,
When there's no

One else around.

Gonna kiss you,
? you and hold you,
Do all things I told ya,
In that midnight hour.
(In the midnight hour)
Oh yes, oh yes I will.
(In the midnight hour)

I'm gonna wait
'Til the stars come out.
And see that twinkle
In your eye.

I'm gonna wait
'Til that midnight hour,
When my love
Begins to shine.

You're the only boy I know,
That really loves me so,
In that midnight hour.
(In that midnight hour)
Oh, baby,
In that midnight hour.
(In the midnight hour)

[Bridge]

I just can't wait,
I say I just can't wait,
To hold you close to me, baby.
To have you close to me, honey.
To feel your touch.
You know you're much too much.

Oh, come on now, boy,
Hear my heart rejoice (?)

I say I just can't wait.
(In the midnight hour)
No I just can't wait.
(In the midnight hour)
I just can't wait!
(In the midnight hour)
Oh no! I just can't wait.
(In the midnight hour)
Oh oh oh!
In the midnight hour!

I'm gonna wait
'Til that midnight hour,
When when my love,
It comes tumblin' down.

I'm gonna wait
'Til that midnight hour,
When there's no
One else around.

Nobody but you and I,
Oh yeah,
(In the midnight hour)
No one, nobody else,
(In the midnight hour)
Oh baby, in that midnight hour.
(In the midnight hour)
Oh yeah, can you dig it, baby?
(Dig it dig it)
Oh yeah, I can dig it, baby.
(Dig it dig it)
In the midnight hour.
(In the midnight hour)

Oh yes, in that midnight hour.
(In the midnight hour)

Overall Meaning

The Mirettes’ “In The Midnight Hour” is a classic soul song about waiting for love and passion to come alive in the dead of the night. The singer states that they will wait until midnight, when no one else is around, to express their love for their partner. They want to kiss, hold, and do all the things they have promised to do, which have not yet been fulfilled. The singer is confident that in the midnight hour, their love will come tumbling down and begin to shine. They have been waiting for this moment, and they just can't wait anymore for it to happen.

The lyrics of this song were written by Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper, and it was first recorded by Wilson Pickett in 1965. The Mirettes version was released in 1968, and it became a hit, reaching number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song has been covered by many other artists, including Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, and The Jam.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm gonna wait
I will be patient and wait

'Til that midnight hour,
Until the precise time at midnight arrives

When when my love
At the moment that my lover

Comes tumblin' down.
Arrives or appears suddenly and excitedly

When there's no
At the time when it is difficult or impossible for

One else around.
Any other person to be present

Gonna kiss you,
I will give you a kiss,

? you and hold you,
I will do things with you and embrace,

Do all things I told ya,
I will perform all the activities I have advised you,

In that midnight hour.
At that specific moment at midnight.

(In the midnight hour)
(At the moment at midnight)

Oh yes, oh yes I will.
I will surely do it without fail.

I'm gonna wait
I will be patient and wait

'Til the stars come out.
Until the celestial bodies become visible

And see that twinkle
And watch that sparkle

In your eye.
In your eyes, which are the windows to your soul.

When my love
At the precise moment when I am in love

Begins to shine.
Begins to radiate and be evident.

You're the only boy I know,
You are the sole young man I am acquainted with,

That really loves me so,
Who genuinely cares for me to such an extent,

Oh, baby,
Oh, darling,

I just can't wait,
I am extremely impatient,

I say I just can't wait,
I declare that I am so impatient

To hold you close to me, baby.
To have you near and me touching or holding you.

To have you close to me, honey.
To be beside you and have you close.

To feel your touch.
To experience your caresses.

You know you're much too much.
You're amazing and incredible.

Oh, come on now, boy,
Oh, let's get going, young man,

Hear my heart rejoice (?)
Listen to my joyous heart.

No one, nobody else,
No one except us,

Oh baby,
Oh my love,

Oh yeah, can you dig it, baby?
Oh yes, do you comprehend or agree, my love?

(Dig it dig it)
(Do you comprehend)

Oh yes, in that midnight hour.
Indeed, at that particular moment at midnight.

(In the midnight hour)
(At the moment at midnight)

Writer(s): Stephen Lee Cropper, Wilson Pickett Copyright: Cotillion Music Inc., East Memphis Music Corp.

Contributed by Christian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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