‘Midnight Confessions’ is a song written by Lou T. Josie and originally performed by the Ever-Green Blues. American rock band The Grass Roots later made it famous when they released it as a single in 1968. Though never released on any of the group's studio albums, it was on their first compilation album, Golden Grass, and has since been included on many of their other compilations. The Grass Roots version became the band's biggest charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching the Top 5 of both the U.S. and Canadian pop singles charts.
The lyrics describe a man who is infatuated with a married woman, knows he can never have her, and is relegated to confessing his love for her audibly, but alone. The original recording of ‘Midnight Confessions’ was a demo by the Evergreen Blues Band, whose manager – Lou Josie – wrote the song. The demo contained a horn section and caught the attention of Record producer/engineer Steve Barri, who was looking to produce a song for the Grass Roots that was a "West Coast" version of a Motown-style production. The Grass Roots track was produced/engineered by Steve Barri with the horn section's arrangement by Jimmie Haskell. The instrumentation was recorded by the group of LA studio-musicians known as The Wrecking Crew, as were many hits by the Grass Roots. Rob Grill and Warren Entner shared lead vocals, with Grill singing the verses and Entner, the choruses.
‘Midnight Confessions’ was released as a single by the ABC/Dunhill record label in late June 1968. It was the Grass Roots' first to feature a horn section and was therefore a departure from the group's previous singles; the band members worried that this would preclude it from becoming a hit. However, it was well received and became their biggest hit in the United States, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 2, 1968, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, with sales of over one million units, on December 3, 1968. The single also did well in Canada, peaking at #4 on the RPM 100 singles chart.
Labels – ABC, Dunhill
Songwriter – Lou Josie
Producer – Steve Barri
SONG LYRICS
[Instrumental Intro][Verse 1]
The sound of your footsteps
Tellin' me that you're near
Your soft gentle motion, babe
Brings out a need in me
That no one can hear except
[Chorus]
In my midnight confessions
When I tell all the world that I love you
In my midnight confessions
When I say all the things
That I want to, I love you
[Post-Chorus]
But a little gold ring you wear on your hand
Makes me understand
There's another before me, you'll never be mine
I'm wastin' my time
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 2]
Staggerin' through the daytime
Your image on my mind
Passin' so close beside you, babe
Sometimes the feelings
Are so hard to hide, but
[Chorus]
In my midnight confessions
When I tell all the world that I love you
In my midnight confessions
When I say all the things
That I want to, I love you
[Instrumental Bridge]
[Post-Chorus]
There's a little gold ring you wear on your hand
That makes me understand
There's another before me, you'll never be mine
I'm wastin' my time
[Bridge]
In my midnight confessions
When I'm tellin' the world that I love you
In my midnight confessions
When I say all the things that I want to
[Outro]
Na, na-na, na-na, na-na-na
Na, na-na, na-na, na, na-na
Na, na-na, na-na, na-na-na