Billy Strings and Del McCoury have collaborated on a new rendition of the bluegrass standard, “Midnight On The Stormy Deep”. The single, released across streaming platforms on Friday, comes as the first studio collaboration between the rising bluegrass star and the titan of the old guard.
Like many traditional bluegrass songs, “Midnight On The Stormy Deep” has a rich and winding past, one that even weaves its way through U.S. history. The song was originally adopted from the German poem “Soldatenliebe” by Wilhelm Hauff and published in the United States prior to the Civil War. During the Civil War, the song was translated to “The Night Guard” and was distributed among Union troops, per Second Hand Songs. The first recording of the poem set to music was released by Lester McFarland and Robert A. Gardner in 1927.
Billy and Del make history come alive as they offer their own rendition of the song recorded by everyone from Bill Monroe to the Carter Family and beyond. Here audiences see Billy putting on his traditional bluegrass cap as he dons the mandolin and joins Del on guitar. The two opposing voices, one young and another old, create a unique musical melding of styles as the modern godfather of bluegrass gives his approval to the young buck.
Watch Billy Strings and Del McCoury collaborate on the original “Midnight On The Stormy Deep” or stream the single on your preferred streaming platform here.
Billy Strings, Del McCoury – “Midnight On The Stormy Deep” (Traditional)
[Video: Billy Strings]