Darrell McCall’s Timeless Rendition of a Country Music Standard
The Origins of the Song
“Rainbow at Midnight” is a novelty song written by Lost John Miller. The song was originally recorded by The Carlisle Brothers in 1946 and reached number five on the Juke Box Folk chart. Ernest Tubb also recorded the song and had his third number one on the Juke Box Folk chart with his version of the song. Other artists who have recorded the song include Texas Jim Robertson and the Panhandle Punchers, Jimmy Wakely, Jimmie Rodgers, George Hamilton IV, and Webb Pierce.
Darrell McCall also recorded the song at Singleton Sound Studio in Nashville on March 5, 1973, in the sessions for an unreleased album. His version of “Rainbow at Midnight” was released as a single in 1973. Darrell McCall’s version of the song can be found on YouTube
The Story Behind the Song
“Rainbow at Midnight” is a song about a soldier returning home from war and seeing a rainbow at midnight. The rainbow symbolizes hope and a new beginning after the darkness of war. The soldier is grateful to be alive and to be able to return home to his loved ones. The lyrics express the soldier’s joy and relief at being able to leave the war behind and start a new life. The song is a tribute to the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families and a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Covers
“Rainbow at Midnight” has been covered by several artists over the years. Here is a list of some of the notable covers:
– Ernest Tubb featuring Marty Robbins (1946)
– Texas Jim Robertson and the Panhandle Punchers (1947)
– Jimmy Wakely with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra (1952)
– Jimmie Rodgers (1962)
– George Hamilton IV (1965)
– Webb Pierce (1965)
– Darrell McCall (1973)
Ernest Tubb’s version of the song reached number one on the Juke Box Folk chart, while Texas Jim Robertson and the Panhandle Punchers’ version made it to number five on the same chart. The song has also been included in several albums by different artists over the years.
The Artist
Darrell McCall is a country music performer known for his honky tonk and traditional country musical style. He began his recording career as a member of the Little Dippers in 1960 and broke away from the group the following year. He was popular in the 1960s as a pop singer and moved to outlaw country at its peak in the 1970s. McCall has been associated with several record labels throughout his career, including Philips, Wayside, Atlantic, Columbia, Hillside, RCA, and Indigo. He continues to tour and perform on a regular basis, and his wife Mona is also part of the touring band where she contributes guitar and vocals. McCall has recorded new material for Heart of Texas Records, an independent record label specializing in classic country music. He has released several albums through the label, including studio albums, a greatest hits collection, and a duets record called “Survivors,” with fellow classic country artists. Darrell McCall has also worked as a studio harmony vocalist, singing on records by Faron Young, George Jones, and Ray Price, among others.
COUNTRYPEDIA
Ernest Tubb – Rainbow At Midnight Lyrics
After the war was over
I was coming home to you
I saw a rainbow at midnight
Out on the ocean blue
The stars in heaven were shining
The moon gave its light from above
I saw your face in this rainbow
And it made me think of our love
We’ll build our home in the country
And make all our dreams come true
There we will make a heaven
Sweetheart just for we two
Here we will live so happy
And have a baby or two
We’ll name them after the rainbow
Because it reminds me of you
After this life is over
And our journey here is through
We’ll move to the land of the rainbow
And live in the starry blue
GENIUS
