It was written by Jerry Chesnut and Billy Edd Wheeler.

[2][3] The session produced three more charting songs: "Promised Land", "If You Talk in Your Sleep" and "Help Me".

The song was first released in October 1974 as a B-side to a cover of Chuck Berry's "Promised Land".

[2][4] (While the Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records indicates "Promised Land" as the A-side,[5] different pressings have "It's Midnight" as the A-side and "Promised Land" as a B-side and vice versa.

)[6] "Promised Land" rose to number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100,[2] while the two sides together (as "It's Midnight / Promised Land") and "It's Midnight" on its own charted on the Hot Country Singles chart.