Discover the story of the song > Pick A Bale Of Cotton On Top Of Old Smoky Midnight Special Medley – Abba

The lyrics of these songs are about different activities and situations. In the first song, the protagonist and their friend are excited to pick a bale of cotton every day. The chorus repeats the phrase "Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton" to emphasize their enthusiasm. The second song is about the protagonist losing their true lover because they took too long to court them. The third song talks about waking up in the morning and seeing the same old thing on the table, not having enough to eat. It warns that if you speak up about it, you'll get in trouble with the man. The chorus asks for the "midnight special" to shine its light on the protagonist, possibly symbolizing hope or redemption.