Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006) was an American R&B and … Read Full Bio ↴Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006) was an American R&B and soul singer. Known for his raw, passionate delivery, he played a major role in developing southern soul music. Aided immeasurably by the excellent studio bands backing him at the Stax Studios in Memphis, Tennessee and at the Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals Alabama, Pickett created iconic hits such as "In the Midnight Hour," "Mustang Sally," and "Funky Broadway" for Atlantic Records between 1963 and 1972.

One of the most popular black singers of the 60s, Wilson Pickett helped introduce the aggressive, rhythmic style of black music to a wide audience and has influenced almost countless rnb artists over the years. It all got started in Prattville, Alabama, where he was raised. Pickett moved to Detroit, Michigan at the age of sixteen, and he made his professional debut spending several years singing with the gospel group The Violinaires in the late 50s. From 1961 to 1963, he was in The Falcons, writing and singing their 1962 hit "I Found A Love".

Pickett then went solo and signed with Lloyd Price's Double L Records, where he wrote and recorded "If You Love Me" and "It's Too Late." In 1964, Pickett signed with Atlantic Records and did his early recordings in the Stax studio in Memphis, Tennessee with Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper of The MGs. Cropper co-authored three of his early hits, "In the Midnight Hour" and "Don't Fight It from his debut album The Exciting Wilson Pickett that established him as a major soul star. The album also included "Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)," "She's So Good to Me," and "Land of a 1,000 Dances," all recorded at Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals.

Pickett then had hits with "Mustang Sally," "I Found a Love," and "Funky Broadway," all recorded in Muscle Shoals. Pickett then teamed with Bobby Womack in 1968 for Midnight Mover that yielded a Top 10 R7B and pop hit with Womack's title song. In 1969, Pickett had a major hit with The Beatles "Hey Jude,", followed in 1970 by "Sugar, Sugar." Later in 1970, Pickett worked with producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. The result was two crossover hits "Engine Number Nine," and "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You."

After crossover hits "Don't Knock My Love - Part 1" and "Fire and Water" Pickett left Atlantic for RCA, with minimum success. Pickett later recorded for several record companies, including his own Wicked label, but failed to have anymore hits.

Wilson Pickett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.In 1999 he performed with his friend Bruce Springsteen.In 2002 he performed in the movie Only The Strong Survive.Singing his classic hits like In the Midnight hour and Land Of 1000 Dances.In 2004 Pickett retired from performing do to Health problems.Pickett told his sister he was going to the field of God but he never recovered.

On January 19,2006 Pickett died of a heart attack at his home. At his funeral long time friend Richard Pennimen (Little Richard) did a eulogy for Mr Pickett with his brothers at his funeral.

Pickett's Personal life was troubled. In 1993 he struck a pedestrian Pepe Ruiz. Later that year Ruiz died. Soul Singer Don Covay called him "Young and Wild". Pickett was arrested many times in his life.

I'm A Midnight Mover
Wilson Pickett Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm a midnight mover, lookee here
All night through
I'm a midnight teaser
Real soul pleaser
I'm a midnight hugger (midnight hugger)
All night long, lookee here (and a lover)
Trust in me when you're down and out (please, baby)
I will always bring you up

They call me the midnight mover, oh yeah, ow
I'm a midnight walker
Sweet soul talker
I'm a midnight creeper
All-day sleeper
I'm a midnight rover, huh
Have to look things over
Leave your love light shinin' bright (please, baby)
Makes me know that everything's all right, ow
Hey, I'm a mover, groover, teaser, pleaser
Hugger, lover, walker, talker, oh
Got to be a midnight mover, oh
Got to be a midnight groover, oh
Got to be a midnight teaser, oh
Got to be a real soul-pleaser, oh
Got to be a midnight hugger, oh
Got to be a midnight lover, oh
Got to be a midnight walker, oh (a midnight walker)

Got to be a midnight talker, oh (a midnight talker)
Got to be a midnight creeper, oh (a midnight creeper)

Overall Meaning

The song "I'm A Midnight Mover" by Wilson Pickett is a testament to the singer's charisma and confidence as a performer. The song is about Pickett's ability to keep going all night long, whether it be through singing, dancing, or just being there for his audience. He describes himself as a "midnight mover," a "walker," a "teaser," a "pleaser," a "hugger," a "lover," and a "talker." Essentially, Pickett is saying that he is capable of fulfilling any role that his audience needs from him in order to keep the party going.

The lyrics are backed up by an infectious rhythm and horn section, making it impossible not to dance along. Pickett's vocals are raw and passionate, reflecting the intensity of the all-night party that he is singing about. The song is a celebration of the unbridled energy of the night, and Pickett himself is the embodiment of that energy.

Overall, "I'm A Midnight Mover" is a testimony to Wilson Pickett's talent as a performer and his ability to connect with an audience. The lyrics are simple yet effective, and the music is infectious and soulful, making it a classic soul tune that stands the test of time.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a midnight mover, lookee here
I'm the one who moves at midnight, watch out

All night through
Throughout the whole night

I'm a midnight teaser
I tease at midnight, oh yeah

Real soul pleaser
I really please the soul, ow

I'm a midnight hugger (midnight hugger)
I embrace at midnight, yeah (embrace)

All night long, lookee here (and a lover)
All night, watch out (and a lover)

Trust in me when you're down and out (please, baby)
Rely on me when you're feeling low (please, baby)

I will always bring you up
I'll always make you feel better

They call me the midnight mover, oh yeah, ow
They call me the one who moves at midnight, oh yeah, ow

I'm a midnight walker
I walk at midnight

Sweet soul talker
I talk sweetly about the soul

I'm a midnight creeper
I sneak around at midnight

All-day sleeper
I sleep all day

I'm a midnight rover, huh
I wander at midnight, huh

Have to look things over
I have to examine things carefully

Leave your love light shinin' bright (please, baby)
Let your love shine brightly (please, baby)

Makes me know that everything's all right, ow
It lets me know that everything is alright, ow

Hey, I'm a mover, groover, teaser, pleaser
Hey, I'm the one who moves, grooves, teases, and pleases

Hugger, lover, walker, talker, oh
I hug, love, walk, and talk, oh

Got to be a midnight mover, oh
I have to be the one who moves at midnight, oh

Got to be a midnight groover, oh
I have to be the one who grooves at midnight, oh

Got to be a midnight teaser, oh
I have to be the one who teases at midnight, oh

Got to be a real soul-pleaser, oh
I have to be the one who really pleases the soul, oh

Got to be a midnight hugger, oh
I have to be the one who embraces at midnight, oh

Got to be a midnight lover, oh
I have to be the one who loves at midnight, oh

Got to be a midnight walker, oh (a midnight walker)
I have to be the one who walks at midnight, oh (a midnight walker)

Got to be a midnight talker, oh (a midnight talker)
I have to be the one who talks at midnight, oh (a midnight talker)

Got to be a midnight creeper, oh (a midnight creeper)
I have to be the one who sneaks around at midnight, oh (a midnight creeper)

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bobby Womack, Wilson Pickett

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@bholaoates1542

4y↑6

I always felt he had the best scream of any of the great soul singers. And this song is one of the best examples. Might be my favorite song by him overall.

@wymellwilliams1543

No body better maybe James brown

@nelsandrew

8y↑13

Loving this, all true soul, no garbage trash-talking rap fools. With you, Wilson!

@kingbee1500

7y↑5

RIGHT ON, Nelsandrew...after all, he was A Man And A Half!!!

@wymellwilliams1543

@King Bee King what you know about that

@joerichardson4358

3y↑5

I have always liked "In The Midnight Hour", but I have also liked "I'm a Midnight Mover" just as much. A great catchy Soul song sung by the great Wilson "Wicked" Pickett.

@carrienixon6663

2y↑5

Bobby Womack on lead guitar 🎸. oh, and we can’t forget the awesome man on lead vocals. The one & only Wilson Pickett. R.I.P. to them both.

@Multi1628

13y↑7

ONE OF THE WICKED PICKETT'S MORE UNDER-APPRECIATED DANCE SONGS! THANK YOU FOR POSTING - DAVEDJ

@wymellwilliams1543

That's the one there's so many more

@WorldBFree-lw6wo

7y↑7

Thank you, this is a much underappreciated tune in my opinion. The combination of the Muscle Shoals rhythm section and Rick Hall production with the Memphis Horns and WP was tight and tough. I wore this '45 out! LOL

@bholaoates1542

Just might be my favorite Wilson Pickett song.

@wymellwilliams1543

You think so

@laksivrak2203

1y↑1

This is my favorite Wilson Pickett song! He was essential to earths music! Leave your love light shining bright!!!

@Bambi9753

6y↑8

Wilson was a real soul pleaser alright!

@rossharmonics

13y↑3

This song knocked me out the first time I heard it on the radio in th '60s. I bought the LP immediately. It was not as big a hit as some of Wilson Pickett's songs but was as good as anything he did.

@mansourkhodjamansour1719

mon chanteur préféré je l'écoute depuis toujours je connais tous son répertoire j'adore sa voix cassée son coffre wow ça déchire

@richardpharris6941

10y↑1

Thank you so much for posting this. Listening to this during the day helps make the time pass without even realizing it.

@jamiewarriorwarlordmccallu5712

9y↑9

classic soul song from wilson pickett. and i am a midnight mover a soul shaker. and bobby womack wrote this song too and played guitar on it.

@randythirdsun6751

6y↑3

thanks i always wondered who played that guitar!!

@samuelgriffin4167

2y↑1

I've always loved his music regardless US radio stations no longer play these hits but I'm fortunate enough to listen to these classic soul sounds on YouTube

@tomjacus952

5y↑2

badass bass line by the great immortal Tommy Cogbill..

@TheJustjammin

11y↑2

A all -time Greatest Hit !!!!

@jamesrobinson9646

2y↑1

I agree that he had the best scream of all the soul singers of his era. Easy to hear his church and blues influence. Love his slow songs also.

@ratview

14y

Great song and video......... Well done

@GREATTECH1

2y↑1

Every time I hear this song, I'm reminded of Judy Carne, Goldie Hawn and Theresa Graves grooving in those sweet miniskirts of the 60's. I think of Laugh-In, and how much simpler things were in comparison to now. We danced all our favorite dances...boogaloo, shing-a-ling, watusi, tighten up, jerk, pony, mashed potato,and a host of others. I was a teenager then, and this was right up my alley. I still live for my music of the 60's.... NOTHING LIKE IT.

@thomasgibson9663

30w

My favorite Wicked Pickett tune. Memphis soul !!!!

@tracylouis

11y↑1

Nice post and info on the recording. For what it's worth, one of Pickett's road drummers, Lonnie Castile, told me long, long ago that he'd played on this track. Lonnie was a great drummer and not prone to storytelling. But who knows? Things weren't always well-documented back in the day.

@wymellwilliams1543

Let's give the drummer some you got it durmmer

@V719117

10y↑14

Wilson Pickett is one of the best Soul singers from the sixties. Real Soul Voice !

@lymehausdj8

8y↑4

+Willy Verstraeten Not one of the best, he was the very best.

@annegretaolsen9569

I love it so much, hole my life, since the beging of the 70s! ❤

@ugolagazzi4246

MEZZANOTTE DI NATALE👍

@TheYalltube

13y↑1

As related to me (Leon Rubenhold) from Wilson Pickett himself, the recording session for the song "Fly Me To the Moon" was done as an afterthought for Womack as their was a half hour left on the date and Pickett asked Womack "got anything you want to record in the time left?

@dalebrooks2583

you Got To Feel It Wilson Pickett

@johntapp3311

8y↑3

So this is what the radio sounded like when I was newborn!!

@wymellwilliams1543

Now you can join the party

@franz909

12y↑1

I saw James Brown in a small venue too and I ain't chosen between the two , they're both on my A- list .. " over shadow " i know your meaning but in reality , he had it just like James Brown . He was a big talent , lots of charisma and did what he had to do , knock it out of the park ... sweat'n like a maddog .

@wymellwilliams1543

Right on baby

@jay1beaux

13y

Thanks, great tune

@Classic63

13y↑1

@jdmfonte Thanks so much ! I'm so glad you enjoyed it !

@carrienixon6663

7y↑2

I heard that Bobby Womack is playing the guitar on this song.

@DJObliteration1

Another favorite screamer of mine

@bonnieholland6801

The Man Always!!

@Classic63

13y↑1

@ratview Thank you so much ! Glad you enjoyed it !

@captlarry-3525

COS.. thanks for the background lesson.. glad to know more about Bobby Womack too.

@jdmfonte

13y

Excellent Historical Background on the Memphis Soulmen and Composite Rhythm Section par excellence.....No wonder The Commitments p-aid dues to Mr Pickett. He was recognized but overshadowed by James Brown and Otis....which are good shadows to be in but still his music had some real funk behind it too.

@roadrunneruntd

13y↑1

AS MUSIC TECH SNM - jammed to this song whole exam XD

@randythirdsun6751

Thanku for the credits at the end!

@jdmfonte

13y

Oh Yeah I forgot to add: I played in some pretty funky bands from Florida tro San Antonio Texas, then during a 7 year Air Force assignment to Germany I staryted writing/Recording my own (and some "borrowed") music material