Michael Martin Murphey – Wildfire

«Wildfire» is a song written by Michael Martin Murphey and Larry Cansler. It was originally recorded by Murphey, who had yet to add his middle name to his recorded work, and appears on his gold-plus 1975 album Blue Sky – Night Thunder.

Released in February 1975 as the album’s lead single, «Wildfire» became Murphey’s highest-charting pop hit in the United States. The somber story song hit No. 2 in Cash Box and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 1975. In addition, it hit the top position of the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, displacing «Love Will Keep Us Together».

The single continued to sell, eventually receiving platinum certification from the RIAA, signifying sales of over two million US copies. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

From the album Blue Sky – Night Thunder
B-side «Night Thunder»
Released February 1975
Genre Country, soft rock, adult contemporary
Length 3:15 Single edit. (4:47 LP version.)
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Michael Murphey, Larry Cansler
Producer(s) Bob Johnston

Michael Martin Murphey – Wildfire lyrics

I[Intro]

[Verse 1]
She comes down from Yellow Mountain
On a dark, flat land she rides
On a pony she named Wildfire
With a whirlwind by her side
On a cold Nebraska night

[Interlude]

[Verse 2]
Oh, they say she died one winter
When there came a killing frost
And the pony she named Wildfire
Busted down his stall
In a blizzard, she was lost

[Chorus]
She ran calling Wildfire
Calling Wildfire
Calling Wildfire

[Verse 3]
So by the dark of the moon, I planted
But there came an early snow
Been a hoot-owl howling outside my window now
‘Bout six nights in a row
She’s coming for me, I know
And on Wildfire we’re both gonna go
[Chorus]
We’ll be ridin’ Wildfire
Ridin’ Wildfire
Ridin’ Wildfire

On Wildfire we’re gonna ride
Gonna leave sodbustin’ behind
Get the hard times right on out of our minds
Riding Wildfire

{Outro}