Recorded by the American group The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, “Fishin’ in the Dark” was written by Wendy Walkman and Jim Photogolo. 

Fun Facts:

• The catchy tune was released on June 7th, 1987 as the second single off their album Hold On. 
• The premise of the song revolves around a couple that is considering taking a late-night fishing adventure. Specifically, the two are planning to make their way to a remote river and chart constellations during a night that features a full moon; the expedition itself takes place during the late spring/early summer. 
• The song reached number 1 on the U.S. and Canadian charts, becoming the band’s third number-one single on U.S. Country charts. This led to a music video being developed, directed by Bill Young, that features the band playing in front of a live audience. 
• Due to its popularity, “Fishin’ in the Dark” has been covered multiple times by bands including Emerson Drive, Garth Brooks, Nathan Carter, and The Swon Brothers.
• It had a resurgence in popularity following its availability to download, selling over a million digital copies by 2015.
• The song was certified Platinum by the RIAA on September 12th, 2014.
• This was their first single to feature a pop-oriented theme to it, replacing their typical country purists roots.
• The song was boosted by Garth Brook’s version, dubbed the “Garth Effect.” After releasing his version on 2005’s The Lost Sessions and the 2013 box set Blame It All on My Roots, the song has boosted sales and downloads.

Lyrics:

(Musixmatch)

Lazy yellow moon comin’ up tonight

Shinin’ through the trees

Crickets are singin’ and lightning bugs

Are floatin’ on the breeze, baby get ready

Across the field where the creek turns back

By the old stump row

I’m gonna take you to a special place

That nobody knows baby get ready

You and me go fishin’ in the dark

Lyin’ on our backs and countin’ the stars

Where the cool grass grows

Down by the river in the full moonlight

We’ll be fallin’ in love in the middle of the night

Just movin’ slow

Stayin’ the whole night through

It feels so good to be with you

Spring is almost over and the summer’s come

And the days are gettin’ long

Waited all winter for the time to be right

Just to take you along, baby get ready

And it don’t matter if we sit forever

And the fish don’t bite

Jump in the river and cool ourselves

From the heat of the night, baby get ready

You and me go fishin’ in the dark

Lyin’ on our backs and countin’ the stars

Where the cool grass grows

Down by the river in the full moonlight

We’ll be fallin in love in the middle of the night

Just movin’ slow

Stayin’ the whole night through

It feels so good to be with you

You and me go fishin’

(You and me go fishin in the dark)

In the dark lyin’ on our backs and countin’ the stars

Where the cool grass grows, down by the river

(Down by the light)

In the full moonlight we’ll be fallin’ in love in the middle of the night

(We’ll be fallin in love)

Just movin’ slow

You and me go fishin’

(You and me go fishin in the dark)

In the dark lyin’ on our backs and countin’ the stars

Where the cool grass grows

Down by the river in the full moonlight

(Down by the light)

We’ll be fallin’ in love in the middle of the night…