MIDNIGHT ON THE WATER is an old Texas waltz. 

Well I never was one for musch fancy dancin,
My two big left feet follow my wanderin' eye
But when I hear that slow air played in 3/4 time
I could waltz with my darling until morning light

(chorus)
Play me a fiddle tune sing me a song
Banish misfortune our time is not long
Midnight on the water so steady and slow
The lark in the morning one more for the road
Midnight on the water so steady and slow
Pour me one last drink, set 'em up Joe

Now most of my waltzing has been done in barrooms
'Cos drinkin' and dancin' go hand in glove
Buy a beer for the fiddler and request that slow song
So I can dance closely with the one that I love

(chorus) 



(Martin Carthy credits Ron Kavana with writing the (above-mentioned) "song around the Texas waltz Midnight on the Water" in his liner notes for the c.d. Waterson/Carthy. )
The song appears on Ron's 1989 CD 'Think like a hero'

"Midnight on the Water," was composed by Luke Thomasson 


=========================

I have a recording of the late Kate Wolf singing Midnight on the Water. The words are entirely different for those of Ron Kavana.

There are times when I am blue thinking of you and me
At midnight on the water and how it used to be.
The stars among the trees in some old memories I know
At midnight on the water not so long ago.

Though they're gone like floating dreams,
The scenes were there as in a mirror
Made by the moon upon the water,
And our love was never stronger.
But the picture was broken by the waves we left behind,
At midnight on the water once upon a time.

There are times when I am blue thinking of you and me
At midnight on the water and how it used to be.
In the stillness of the lake where these thoughts take me again,
At midnight on the water,do you remember when?

Though they're gone like floating dreams,
The scenes were there as in a mirror
Made by the moon upon the water,
And our love was never stronger.
But the picture was broken by the waves we left behind,
At midnight on the water once upon a time.


I only have the recording on a tape, so I don't know who wrote these words.
(the one that kate sang is by John Croizat.)


Rosie Mundy.