Verse 1 I came in carrying Monday With the whole week on my back Then somebody hit a blue note And the drummer laid it down Guitar started talking Bass came walking through the room I said I’d stay for just one number Now I’m dancing past the moon Pre-Chorus There’s a heel tapping under every table There’s a shoulder keeping time You can tell yourself you’re leaving But that guitar changes minds Chorus It’s midnight at the Mines And nobody’s going home That six-string’s raising trouble Every time it starts to roar Move the chairs and clear the middle Let the whole room lose control It’s midnight at the Mines And Chicago’s got my soul Verse 2 There’s a woman near the front now Moving like she owns the beat There’s a man still in his necktie Sliding sideways on his feet Drinks are moving down the bar Piano rolling with the beat Then the band across the room starts And everybody leaves their seat Pre-Chorus Now the drummer kicks it harder And the piano answers back Somebody yells, “Keep going!” And the guitar jumps the track Chorus It’s midnight at the Mines And nobody’s going home That six-string’s raising trouble Every time it starts to roar Move the chairs and clear the middle Let the whole room lose control It’s midnight at the Mines And Chicago’s got my soul Bridge One room stops The next one starts Same blue fire Different sparks One more chorus One more round Nobody here is sitting down {Instrumental Break — fiery electric guitar and blues piano trade riffs over a driving Chicago shuffle. Punchy bass and tight drums keep the groove moving. No vocals.} Verse 3 Now it’s somewhere after midnight But nobody checks the time Another band is getting ready While the last one takes its time There’s a plate left on the table There’s a glass beside the stage Every time that guitar catches The whole room turns another page Final Chorus It’s midnight at the Mines And nobody’s slowing down That guitar keeps on cutting While the rhythm shakes the ground One more song, one more shuffle One more reason not to go It’s midnight at the Mines And Chicago’s running the show Outro Keep it rolling Don’t slow down One more shuffle One more round Midnight at the Mines Long after closing time That blues keeps walking with you All the way home tonight {Extended Instrumental Outro — gritty electric guitar, blues piano, bass, and drums keep the fast shuffle groove going for 20 seconds, trading short riffs and building energy before a gradual fade. No vocals.}
