The tune Midnight on the Water is attributed to the Texan fiddler Luke1 “Red Luke” Thomasson, dating back to around 1900.2 It gained notable recognition after being recorded by his son, fiddler Benny Thomasson (1909 – 1984), in 1970 for his album ‘Country Fiddling from the Big State,’ subsequently becoming popular within Old Time music circles. There is speculation that certain sections of Midnight on the Water bear resemblance to Old
Paint,3 a tune by Jess Morris, potentially indicating mutual inspiration, given the proximity of the Morrises and Thomassons in the Texas panhandle during that time period. Often performed in Deadman’s Tuning (DDAD) alongside the standard GDAE tuning, both are viable options, yet Deadman’s Tuning lends the composition a deep resonance, enriching its serene ebbing character.
—Kitty Steetle
Benny Thomasson tune Midnight on the Water
Benny Thomasson’s album Country Fiddling from the Big State
Vivian and Phil Williams
Tyler Childers
The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc
Paul Kirk – Old Paint
Bruce Molsky – Old Paint
Last modified: March 1, 2024
By downloading this music, you agree to the Terms & Conditions.
- I also found ‘Lucas’ and ‘Lewis Alexander’: https://utaholdtimefiddlers.org/author/fiddler/page/2/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Thomasson[↩]
- https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Midnight_on_the_Water[↩]
- I think ‘Old Paint’ refers to a horse, but I can’t find confirmation. [“Paint’s a good pony, and she paces when she can” is a line in the chorus, at least as sung by Bruce Molsky. —Josh][↩]