After 27 Years, Country Remains Hooked On ‘Fishin’ In The Dark’
It’s a song that’s as much about seduction as it is about night fishing. Filled with evocative imagery conjuring moonlight, lightning bugs and counting the stars, “Fishin’ in the Dark” has quietly become one of the most influential songs of the last quarter-plus century, having been referenced countless times in the lyrics of other country songs and covered by multiple artists.
Written by Jim Photoglo and Wendy Waldman, “Fishin’ in the Dark” became the third No. 1 for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1987 and hasn’t left the airwaves since. The original version got 94 spins at 47 reporting stations during the last tracking week (July 28 to Aug. 3). That translates to 635,000 audience impressions, which would put it at No. 57 on the Aug. 16 Country Airplay chart if it were a current. But it has also found a second life with other performers.