Sweet, Sweet Blues

[1] In the Heat of the Night was based on the 1965 novel by John Ball, which was also the basis for the Academy Award winning film of the same name starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, directed by Norman Jewison.

The song, written by series star Carroll O'Connor and performed by Bobby Short, begins Sweet's heroic quest to see that justice is served before the aging murderer of his grandfather is allowed to pass away, taking his secret with him.

In the episode, Nathan Bedford, in the twilight of his years, regretted his involvement in the lynching of Sweet's grandfather and sought peace and forgiveness for his past actions from God, even though he was not the gunman - however, he was there and took part.

Mueller admits to Chief Gillespie on his deathbed that the story about Louis Sweet's disappearance that was originally told was, in fact, a lie, but wouldn't implicate himself being involved.

An aging Klansman who had heard De La Beckwith brag about the killing felt compelled, after all these years, to come forward and give testimony in a court of law.

[8] On August 28, 1963, at the historic “March on Washington,” Dylan sang “Only A Pawn in Their Game” at the Lincoln Memorial – where Dr. Martin Luther King made his famous “I Have A Dream” speech.