With A Vamp In The Middle is a progressive bluegrass classic written by John Hartford and featured on his 1971 album “Aereo-Plain.” The song exemplifies Hartford’s innovative approach to bluegrass, combining traditional string band instrumentation with sophisticated arrangements and witty, self-referential lyrics. The song’s title refers to a musical “vamp” – a repeated musical phrase – that Hartford deliberately incorporated into the composition, with lyrics that acknowledge this:
Well, I wrote this song
With a vamp in the middle
And I knew when I wrote it
That I’d written it for the fiddle
The “Aereo-Plain” album, featuring Norman Blake, Vassar Clements, Tut Taylor, and Randy Scruggs, has been called a progressive bluegrass masterpiece that influenced the newgrass movement. The song has been covered by numerous artists including New Grass Revival. Michael Cleveland and Jason Carter recorded a twin-fiddle version for their 2025 duo album, “Carter & Cleveland”, demonstrating the song’s continued relevance in contemporary bluegrass.