By the age of 12 Simpson was playing guitar and banjo. In 1970, Simpson dropped out of college to become a full-time professional musician, touring folk clubs. In 1976 he recorded his first solo album "Golden Vanity". In the same year he opened for Steeleye Span on their UK tour. Teaming up with June Tabor, a folk singer who didn't play an instrument, Simpson toured folk clubs and appeared at festivals. They recorded three albums together, highlighting each other's complementary talents. There was a fluid jazzy feel about their approach to traditional material.
In the 1980s he moved to America, originally to Ithaca, New York then to Santa Cruz and finally New Orleans.
Over the next ten years Simpson became more and more adventurous, playing blues, bluegrass, cajun and even Indian-inflected music. He released a series of albums right through the 1990s, eventually moving back to the UK.
In 2003 he teamed up with June Tabor again. A readers' poll of the magazine "Acoustic Guitar" voted him as number 12 in the world in 2005.
In 2007 Simpson released "Prodigal Son". The 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards voted it as best album. The fRoots critics poll voted it as the 7th best new album of 2007. It is a mixture of traditional songs and Simpson originals, the highlights of which possess a distinctly southern American flavor.
Simpson is now married to Kit Bailey, the daughter of the singer Roy Bailey, with whom Simpson occasionally performs. Martin and Kit now live in Sheffield and have a daughter.
Jackie and Murphy
Martin Simpson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On South Sheilds sea front
He's a decorated donkey
And with him stands a man
And the man's name is Jackie
He has no decorations
Though he was a hero
On South Sheilds sea front
Jackie sold donkey rides
His favourite was Murphy
And they waited on the tide
To give rides to little children
To flirt with the pretty girls
Then he's joined the Merchany Navy
And he's off to see the world
Oh you sailed the wide world all over, Jackie
'Till you come to Newcastle in New South Wales
You'd had more than enough of stoking coal
Of rolling seas and heavy gales
So you changed your name to plain John Simpson
You jumped ship and you rambled all down on the shore
Shearing, droving, larrikin
And a new recruit for war
Give a dog a bad name, Jackie
Some things never change
A hundred years are almost gone
Not a medal to your name
Some things never change, Jackie
And perhaps they never will
They give a dog a bad name
But your a hero still
When I signed up for this army, Murphy
Thought I might catch a troop ship home
Maybe change my name just one more time
And never more to roam
But we didn't sail to England, Murphy
No, we sailed right into hell
Now I'm a stretcher bearer
In the bloody Dardanelles
You know I don't like taking orders, Murphy
That's not the way I am
But now we've got this job to do
And I'll do the best I can
Oh, you and me are muckers, Murphy
Down here on the sand
I'll whistle and I'll sing my songs
And we'll march to the beat of the band
Jesus you know I'm tired, Murphy
Breakfast wasn't ready today
They said they'd keep my dinner hot
Come on lad, we're on our way
Down to shrapnel gully again
To the land of blood and flesh and bone
We've done it now so many times
You could damn near fetch them on your own
Did you hear the machine gun rattle, Jackie?
Did you feel those bullets tearing through?
I pray that peace and quiet and dark
Were the last things you know
You saved 300 wounded men
You and Murphy on your own
And you died to save the very last
And Murphy fetched him back alone
Give a dog a bad name, Jackie
Some things never change
A hundred years are almost gone
Not a medal to your name
Somethings never change, Jackie
But perhaps they never will
While the bloodless fools in Whitehall
They sit in judgement still
The song "Jackie and Murphy" by Martin Simpson tells the story of a man named Jackie and his donkey Murphy who worked selling donkey rides on South Sheilds sea front. Jackie was a hero, but he didn't have any medals to show for it. Instead, there was a statue of Murphy on the seafront, with the man who had been Jackie standing beside him. Despite Jackie's heroic efforts, he was given a bad name, and even died without any medals of recognition.Â
The song takes the audience on a journey, following Jackie through his life. After leaving Sheilds, he travelled the world and even changed his name to John Simpson. He fought in wars and, when he was stationed at Gallipoli, he saved hundreds of men's lives with the help of Murphy. In the end, Jackie died in battle, leaving only Murphy the donkey and memories to give him a legacy. The song reflects on how the people in power, even after all these years, still tend to judge heroes like Jackie unfairly.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a statue of a donkey
On South Sheilds sea front, there is a statue of a decorated donkey with a man standing next to it.
And the man's name is Jackie
The man standing next to the donkey statue is named Jackie.
He has no decorations
Although he was a hero down on the sands, Jackie has not been awarded any decorations.
Jackie sold donkey rides
When he was on South Sheilds sea front, Jackie sold donkey rides, and his favorite donkey was named Murphy.
And they waited on the tide
Jackie and Murphy waited for the tide to give rides to children and flirt with pretty girls.
To give rides to little children
Jackie and Murphy would give rides to little children who came to the seafront.
To flirt with the pretty girls
Jackie and Murphy would also flirt with the pretty girls who came to the seafront.
Then he's joined the Merchany Navy
Jackie joined the Merchany Navy and sailed to see the world.
Oh you sailed the wide world all over, Jackie
Jackie sailed many miles across the world until he reached Newcastle in New South Wales.
'Till you come to Newcastle in New South Wales
Jackie sailed until he reached Newcastle in New South Wales.
You'd had more than enough of stoking coal
Jackie was tired of stoking coal and the heavy gales caused by the rolling seas.
Of rolling seas and heavy gales
The heavy gales of the rolling seas made Jackie tired.
So you changed your name to plain John Simpson
Jackie changed his name to John Simpson.
You jumped ship and you rambled all down on the shore
Jackie deserted the ship and roamed on the shore, shearing, droving, and being a larrikin.
Shearing, droving, larrikin
Jackie became a shearier, drove sheep, and became a mischievous character.
And a new recruit for war
Jackie eventually became a new recruit for war.
Give a dog a bad name, Jackie
Jackie had a misconception about him that was difficult to change, no matter how much he accomplished.
Some things never change
Despite Jackie's heroism, he still hasn't earned a medal of honor.
A hundred years are almost gone
Time has passed quickly but Jackie hasn't been awarded any medal yet.
But your a hero still
Although Jackie didn't get any medals, he is still a hero in people's eyes.
When I signed up for this army, Murphy
Jackie signed up for the army, and his trusty donkey Murphy was there for him.
Thought I might catch a troop ship home
Jackie hoped he could catch a troop ship back home.
And never more to roam
Jackie was tired of roaming and wanted to stay at home.
But we didn't sail to England, Murphy
Jackie and Murphy did not set sail for England.
No, we sailed right into hell
Instead, they sailed into a war zone and became involved in a bloody conflict.
Now I'm a stretcher bearer
Jackie's job as a soldier was to carry stretchers and help wounded soldiers.
In the bloody Dardanelles
Jackie served in the bloody Dardanelles campaign.
You know I don't like taking orders, Murphy
Jackie was not very comfortable taking orders from others while serving in the war.
That's not the way I am
Jackie is not one who enjoys taking orders.
But now we've got this job to do
Despite his feelings about taking orders, Jackie recognizes that he still has a job to do.
And I'll do the best I can
Jackie promises that he will try to do the best he can to serve their country.
Oh, you and me are muckers, Murphy
Jackie and Murphy are friends who work closely together.
Down here on the sand
Jackie and Murphy are working together on the ground.
I'll whistle and I'll sing my songs
Jackie is trying to distract himself from the war by whistling and singing songs.
And we'll march to the beat of the band
Jackie and Murphy continue to march and work to the pace of the band.
Jesus you know I'm tired, Murphy
Jackie is very tired and wants to rest.
Breakfast wasn't ready today
Jackie is disappointed that breakfast wasn't ready that day.
They said they'd keep my dinner hot
The army promised to keep Jackie's dinner hot.
Come on lad, we're on our way
Regardless of the state of the food, they must continue on their mission.
Down to shrapnel gully again
Jackie goes down to shrapnel gully, a very dangerous place on the battlefield.
To the land of blood and flesh and bone
Shrapnel gully is a place of great carnage with lots of dead bodies.
We've done it now so many times
Jackie and Murphy are very experienced in going to shrapnel gully.
You could damn near fetch them on your own
Because they’ve been there so many times, they could practically go without being directed.
Did you hear the machine gun rattle, Jackie?
The machine guns made a startling noise that Jackie could hear.
Did you feel those bullets tearing through?
Jackie was hit by bullets that went through his body.
I pray that peace and quiet and dark
Jackie hopes that the last thing he would feel is peace, quiet, and darkness.
Were the last things you know
Jackie hopes that the last things he experienced before he died would be peace, quiet, and darkness.
You saved 300 wounded men
Jackie and Murphy saved 300 wounded soldiers despite the heavy fire.
And you died to save the very last
Although Jackie was hit by bullets, he still tried to save the last wounded soldier.
And Murphy fetched him back alone
Murphy alone was able to bring back the wounded soldier to the safe zone.
While the bloodless fools in Whitehall
The leaders in Whitehall who have never fought in a war are making decisions about the war.
They sit in judgement still
The leaders in Whitehall are still making decisions about the war without any combat experience.
Contributed by Madelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mrtumnusmusic
Keep coming back to this song over the years. Makes me cry every time. Unreal songwriting.
@Zyras82
Just heard you perform this on BBC radio2. Simply beautiful.
It's time you and this song got the coverage it deserves.
@reidwhitton6248
Beautiful album! I have fond memories of a concert at the Rongovian Embassy about 21 years ago.
@dnaTwist
Simply beautiful