> Folk Music > Songs > Jimmy Murphy

Jimmy Murphy

[ Roud 7951 ; Ballad Index Beld291 ; MusTrad MT175 ; DT JIMMURPH ; Mudcat 25527 ; trad.]

This is a song about the Irish Roman Catholic priest John Murphy and the Irish Rebellion of 1798 in County Wexford.

Mary and Nigel Hudleston: XXX

Bob and Carole Pegg sang Jimmy Murphy in 1965 on the Transatlantic album Second Wave. The liner notes commented:

Jimmy Murphy was taught to Bob Pegg by Jess Owens, a Dubliner who at the time was doubling as male model and fireman.

The Voice Squad sang Jimmy Murphy on their 1992 album Holly Wood (later reissued as Good People All). Frank Harte noted:

When I first heard this song, sung by Seán Óg O’Tuama many years ago, it had only three verses and that most peculiar chorus. A friend of mine, Luke Cheevers, in true traditional fashion, wrote several verses which I believe enhance the song and expand the story.

Ken Wilson and Jim MacFarland sang Sarah Jane on their 2017 album Here’s a Health to the Company!. Ken Wilson noted:

A fine Dublin singer, Luke Cheevers, introduced me to this song. It’s a 1798 rebellion song and the verses two and three are recent additions by Luke himself.

Molly Donnery sang Jimmy Murphy on The Ciderhouse Rebellion’s 2024 album A Little Bit Slanted. She noted:

One of the most fun songs! There’s nothing quite like bringing this one out in a session and getting everyone to try and complete the chorus in one breath. It almost becomes a race.

Lyrics

The Voice Squad sing Jimmy Murphy

It was in Kilkenny the great row was making
And poor little Jimmy Murphy was the last to be taken

Chorus (after each verse):
We’re far from the last rout
From the East to Downpatrick
Where lies poor little Jimmy Murphy
On the sweet green mossy banks
Skinny-ma-link killy-ma-joe, whiskey, frisky too-ra-loo
Rank-a-diddle-i-doe ding-doora-lie-o!

We gathered our pikes and flintlocks and green branches
And straight to Wexford town we soon were advancing

We fought through New Ross, Vinegar Hill and through Gorey
But ’twas the boys of the Cork Militia that deprived us the glory

We marched through the town and we marched through the city
With our hands tied behind us and the ladies cried “Pity!”

Now Jimmy Murphy wasn’t hanged for sheep-stealing
But he courted a pretty maiden and her name was Kate Whelan