Midnight on the stormy deep

[tree]

I'm trying to research the history of Midnight On The Stormy Deep. #I tried several internet searches and the hits I get are mostly sites featuring lyrics or sites selling recordings.

Does anyone know of an internet resource that might describe the history of this song? #I tried the Smithsonian Institution, without success, and I'm hesitant to depend on Wikipedia for the level of authority I'd prefer to cite.

[evanreilly]

I have always thought this was from the Spanish-American War, if not earlier.
The notes in the Bear Family booklet are: "...another radio favorite from the duet era of the 1930's - this one often associated with the Blue Sky Boys - marks the only studio duet featuring Rowan and Monroe." Recorded by Monroe on December 16th, 1966.

[Red Henry]

I could not find MOTSD on the Levy Sheet Music site, normally an excellent source for pre-1920 published songs.

Lyrics such as "The deep, deep sea may us divide" make me think of the World War I for this number, but it's hard to tell for sure.

Anybody have a copy of the new country-music record encyclopedias? They sometimes give writers and publishers, right back to the beginning.

Red.

[Givson]

Tree:

Here's a link to "Rural Roots of Bluegrass" by Wayne Erbsen, which has a history of this song.

http://books.google.com/books?i....eDr9cv0 (http://books.google.com/books?id=Xwicw5kc3G0C&pg=PA126&lpg=PA126&dq=%22midnight+on+the+stormy+deep%22+origin&source=web&ots=SIVQYbY1XC&sig=XzAu__8xiaBKoxT-FeKTeDr9cv0)

Wayne says the song was written in Germany by Wilhelm Hauff, and was first published in the U.S. before the Civil War.

[AlanN]

Can't add to the origins, but I remember Vic D'Amico and John (preacher man) singing that at the Salem County Fairgrounds one year, dang near made my hair stand up right there!

[mrmando]

Ron Thomason tells an entertaining anecdote connecting the song to Sir John Franklin's ill-fated 1845 Northwest Passage expedition, and to the subsequent expedition financed by Lady Jane Franklin, his widow, in an attempt to find him.

[tree]

My hair stands up when I listen to Big Mon and Peter Rowan's version. #Rowan has ALL the bass runs going on the guitar, too. On top of his vocal skills he's one heck of a rhythm player. #Love Richard Green's fiddling on that too.

I think I may have a copy of the Erbsen book at home somewhere. Thanks, Givson!

[Scotti Adams]

T. Rice does a killer version on the Manzanita Lp...Skaggs with the soaring tenor work...great stuff

[JD Cowles]

the last verse of that song always gives me the chills...

So fare-thee-well I'd rather make
My home upon some icy lake
Where the southern sun refused to shine
Then to trust a love so false as thine

[sgarrity]

Mighty pahwerful!

[allenhopkins]

Ron Thomason tells an entertaining anecdote connecting the song to Sir John Franklin's ill-fated 1845 Northwest Passage expedition, and to the subsequent expedition financed by Lady Jane Franklin, his widow, in an attempt to find him.
Never would disagree with Ron T, but I speculate he's thinking of Lady Franklin's Lament, which Dylan borrowed for Bob Dylan's Dream.

"While riding on a train going west,
I fell asleep for to take my rest...

[evanreilly]

Never disagree with Rawn T?
Ask him about how Bill Monroe puts on his pants!