Those of us of a certain age remember well where we were in 1975 when we heard “Wildfire” by Michael Martin Murphey for the first time and a thousand times after. I was likely cruising up and down the south suburbs of Dallas with an 8 track tape blaring.
That song resonated with all kinds of people from all walks of life whether our rides came from horses or an old Chevy Camaro. It represented a wild inner spirit that gave us freedom to be our authentic selves, free from pressures of conforming to who others wanted us to be. The melody as much as the words captured hearts everywhere.
Back then I knew Murphey was an Oak Cliff native so I felt a kinship there and with that song and a few of his others like “Carolina in the Pines,” I was a fan.
Then recently I wrote an article called “Cowboy Culture” (Sep/Oct 2023 County Line Magazine) that got me to thinking about what that means. I’ve used the phrase “cowgirl up” over the years, preferring that to “pull up your big girl panties” in difficult situations, but I didn’t feel a strong connection to the cowboy way of life.
While writing the article, Murphey resurfaced on my radar and I soon found myself attending a concert where he was performing at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts.
I instantly connected to the music that took me back to my youth and the good feelings his songs evoked, including my own “keep moving forward” cowgirl spirit. More than that, I found myself getting to know Murphey for the first time. He’s a kind human who loves the cowboy way and fights for Native American rights, farmers, ranchers, and environmental issues. He’s authentic in a gentle, wise way that makes you feel like you’re surrounded by nature, sitting around a campfire with an old friend.
Murphey tells stories in his songs and in between he tells more. He recapped how Cher recorded his song “Geronimo’s Cadillac.” He sang “Carolina in the Pines” and I’m sure those sitting near me wished I would stop singing along. He sang “Wildfire” too, of course, but there were other songs that meant just as much to others in the room as that one meant to me.
One I did not remember but resonated with me was “Cowboy Logic” since it gave me some answers in my quest to find out where I fit into that culture. He talked about the simplicity of the cowboy way that’s about moving forward and getting things done, no matter what obstacles may stand in the way.
“If it’s a fence, mend it, if it’s a dollar bill, spend it / Before if burns a hole down in them jeans / It it’s a load, truck it, if it’s a punch, duck it / If she’s a lady, treat her like a queen.
“That’s cowboy logic, every cowboy’s got it / It’s in the way he lives his life and the songs he sings / That’s cowboy logic, every cowboy’s got it / He’s got a simple solution to just about anything.”
I left that concert feeling so fulfilled. I walked over to my favorite coffee shop and there was Murphey, getting himself a coffee before his next performance. He walked out to the pedestrian park and sat on a bench, and I joined him for a few minutes. While gentlemanly appreciative, he was quick to redirect the conversation away from my praise of his work. What he wanted to talk about was a movie coming out called Wildfire: The Legend of the Cherokee Ghost Horse.
Based on his hit song, the movie premieres November 2 at Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth and hits theaters on January 26, 2024. Murphey stars in the movie alongside Mo Brings Plenty (Yellowstone), Chevel Shepherd (The Voice), Adrian Paul (Highlander), and Anne Heche, this being one of her last performances before she died. The film is directed by Eric Parkinson.
Wildfire: The Legend of the Cherokee Ghost Horse tells a story of redemption and forgiveness as a young girl deals with her guilt following the sudden and tragic death of her father. With the family facing financial ruin, the survivors move to Oklahoma (from Texas) to live with the girl’s grandmother. Emotionally lost and distraught, young Samantha finds peace from the attentions she receives from a mysterious wild horse that seems to be following her as she walks home from school each day.
Eventually, Samantha contacts and rides the horse — and with training — she enters competitive rodeo barrel racing and accepts her new situation and friends. But her guilt remains, as Samantha hides the dark secret that she is responsible for her father’s death. She cannot forgive herself. But, with the help of a local Cherokee spiritual leader, her riding trainer, and the wisdom of a local pastor, Samantha comes to realize a greater truth and a solace to her worries.
In the story, Wildfire is a magical creature that serves as a symbolic bridge to the afterlife. The movie was shot primarily in and around Tahlequah, Oklahoma, in the heart of the 14-county Cherokee Nation of Eastern Oklahoma. Many scenes were shot on Sparrowhawk Mountain and alongside the Illinois River at the same locations as were used for the family film classic, “Where the Red Fern Grows.”
Wildfire is portrayed by Pancho, an impressive stallion owned by Jerry and Staci Diaz of New Braunfels, Texas.
Learn more about the movie at www.WildfireMovie.com and treat yourself to some time with Michael Martin Murphey at one of his concerts. Find tour dates on www.michaelmartinmurphey.com.
Listen to Michael Martin Murphey and Chevel Shepherd perform Wildfire HERE.