This is one of the best songs ever written... Wildfire is both a story and a metaphor.
The story is from the 19th Century, when Nebraska was still the wild, wild west, the settlers lived in homes made of sod, and life was hard.
She is either the daughter, the wife or the fiance of the singer. He loved watching her ride her pony Wildfire, she was a vision of raging life, and love.
She died during a 'killing frost' of the kind that blanketed the midwest in the winter of 2007-2008. The horse ran off, being spooked by something, and was never seen again.
By the dark of the moon refers to the time when the moon is full to when it is new again, and is the time that you plant crops that grow below ground, such as potatoes, beets, turnips, etc. The singer was following the old farmers almanac, but his crops were destroyed by an early snow before he could harvest.
He lay there in his cold, empty sod house, knowing he would die of starvation that winter, as promised by the hoot owl outside his window, which in native american lore meant death was coming.
So he waited for her and Wildfire...
Wildfire is a metaphor for something that takes you away from hard times. The song pays tribute to the bravery and hardships faced by our ancestors.
I can buy most of your interpretation, but the relationship of 'she' to the singer that you suggest doesn't fit. "Oh, they say died one winter" suggests to me he only knows of her from stories. She's somewhat of a fantasy figure to him, a legend or myth.
I can buy most of your interpretation, but the relationship of 'she' to the singer that you suggest doesn't fit. "Oh, they say died one winter" suggests to me he only knows of her from stories. She's somewhat of a fantasy figure to him, a legend or myth.
If the rest of your explanation is correct, I imagine the owl is there for the sixth night because the singer is already starved to the point of imminent death, and he's hoping this fantasy of woman and horse is coming to take him from his lonely life of toil and now famine. She is his preferred version of an angel.
jwramc I like your interpretation. I think she was a fantasy figure to him as well. My question is did she die chasing after the horse when he busted out of his stall? I've never been clear on that part of the song.
jwramc I like your interpretation. I think she was a fantasy figure to him as well. My question is did she die chasing after the horse when he busted out of his stall? I've never been clear on that part of the song.
I've also read that Michael Murphey doesn't know for certain all of his meaning. However, I agree that this is a song about death. In particular, it is about the songwriter's own death. The imagery around the hoot owl is striking and consistent as is the use of echo in the orchestration. The words:
I've also read that Michael Murphey doesn't know for certain all of his meaning. However, I agree that this is a song about death. In particular, it is about the songwriter's own death. The imagery around the hoot owl is striking and consistent as is the use of echo in the orchestration. The words:
"There's been a hoot owl howlin' by my window now
For six nights in a row
She's coming for me I know
And on Wildfire we're both gonna go"
"There's been a hoot owl howlin' by my window now
For six nights in a row
She's coming for me I know
And on Wildfire we're both gonna go"
could not be clearer.
could not be clearer.
The introduction is elaborate because, whether he knew it or not, Murphey was setting the scene for us of another world. One none of us has ever visited. That's why the recording it has both a dream-like and haunting character.
The explaination of the woman is quite simple. She is a more romantic Grim Reaper. She is probably some kind of folklore legend. She was a settler that died one winter and her horse was so grief stricken that it ran away a died also. Now both her and her horse are charged with taking dead settlers' spirits to the other side.
The explaination of the woman is quite simple. She is a more romantic Grim Reaper. She is probably some kind of folklore legend. She was a settler that died one winter and her horse was so grief stricken that it ran away a died also. Now both her and her horse are charged with taking dead settlers' spirits to the other side.
With that being said, the song lays out like so. First verse he describes what he is waiting for. Second verse describes how what he is waiting for came to be. Third verse he describes how he got into the situation he is in to be waiting for the "Spectre of Death".
@Stoneformpally
Except that the song specifically says that she went chasing after the horse. First he breaks out of his stall and runs off into the blizzard, and she runs after, calling for him. Both are presumed dead, but neither was ever found. I don't think she and the pony are "general" grim reapers. I don't see her as ferrying just any souls to the other side. I think that it's personal. The singer is someone she was close to, and in grace and love, it will be she and the pony (so he expects) sent to collect his soul and...
@Stoneformpally
Except that the song specifically says that she went chasing after the horse. First he breaks out of his stall and runs off into the blizzard, and she runs after, calling for him. Both are presumed dead, but neither was ever found. I don't think she and the pony are "general" grim reapers. I don't see her as ferrying just any souls to the other side. I think that it's personal. The singer is someone she was close to, and in grace and love, it will be she and the pony (so he expects) sent to collect his soul and bring him to heaven, away from all the pain and toil of the mortal world. He's sure she's already on the way.
@Cache Kid I do appreciate your interpretation. The narrator could even have been her father. I've known Murph for a long time and even rode 500 miles of the Colorado Trail with him over 5 summers about 20 years ago. Even he isn't certain about who the "narrator" is and has often related how the song came to him in a dream. He feels that many interpretations of the lyrics are valid and is/has not been willing to place a "post facto" interpretation. The simple, lovely, haunting story stands on its own.
@Cache Kid I do appreciate your interpretation. The narrator could even have been her father. I've known Murph for a long time and even rode 500 miles of the Colorado Trail with him over 5 summers about 20 years ago. Even he isn't certain about who the "narrator" is and has often related how the song came to him in a dream. He feels that many interpretations of the lyrics are valid and is/has not been willing to place a "post facto" interpretation. The simple, lovely, haunting story stands on its own.
This is one of the best songs ever written... Wildfire is both a story and a metaphor.
The story is from the 19th Century, when Nebraska was still the wild, wild west, the settlers lived in homes made of sod, and life was hard.
She is either the daughter, the wife or the fiance of the singer. He loved watching her ride her pony Wildfire, she was a vision of raging life, and love.
She died during a 'killing frost' of the kind that blanketed the midwest in the winter of 2007-2008. The horse ran off, being spooked by something, and was never seen again.
By the dark of the moon refers to the time when the moon is full to when it is new again, and is the time that you plant crops that grow below ground, such as potatoes, beets, turnips, etc. The singer was following the old farmers almanac, but his crops were destroyed by an early snow before he could harvest.
He lay there in his cold, empty sod house, knowing he would die of starvation that winter, as promised by the hoot owl outside his window, which in native american lore meant death was coming.
So he waited for her and Wildfire...
Wildfire is a metaphor for something that takes you away from hard times. The song pays tribute to the bravery and hardships faced by our ancestors.
It's a masterpiece.
I can buy most of your interpretation, but the relationship of 'she' to the singer that you suggest doesn't fit. "Oh, they say died one winter" suggests to me he only knows of her from stories. She's somewhat of a fantasy figure to him, a legend or myth.
I can buy most of your interpretation, but the relationship of 'she' to the singer that you suggest doesn't fit. "Oh, they say died one winter" suggests to me he only knows of her from stories. She's somewhat of a fantasy figure to him, a legend or myth.
If the rest of your explanation is correct, I imagine the owl is there for the sixth night because the singer is already starved to the point of imminent death, and he's hoping this fantasy of woman and horse is coming to take him from his lonely life of toil and now famine. She is his preferred version of an angel.
Thoughts?
Well, 'They say she died one winter' could also mean she died and the man didn't know what happened.
Well, 'They say she died one winter' could also mean she died and the man didn't know what happened.
Otherwise, very touching.
Otherwise, very touching.
jwramc I like your interpretation. I think she was a fantasy figure to him as well. My question is did she die chasing after the horse when he busted out of his stall? I've never been clear on that part of the song.
jwramc I like your interpretation. I think she was a fantasy figure to him as well. My question is did she die chasing after the horse when he busted out of his stall? I've never been clear on that part of the song.
Jwramc, I like your interpretation as well. When I heard it, though, I really felt he knew this woman, and she was very important to him.
Jwramc, I like your interpretation as well. When I heard it, though, I really felt he knew this woman, and she was very important to him.
When he says "They say she died one winter" I get the feeling he feels she's not really dead, because he sees her still.
When he says "They say she died one winter" I get the feeling he feels she's not really dead, because he sees her still.
But that's just my interpretation. Michael Murphy doesn't even know.
But that's just my interpretation. Michael Murphy doesn't even know.
I've also read that Michael Murphey doesn't know for certain all of his meaning. However, I agree that this is a song about death. In particular, it is about the songwriter's own death. The imagery around the hoot owl is striking and consistent as is the use of echo in the orchestration. The words:
I've also read that Michael Murphey doesn't know for certain all of his meaning. However, I agree that this is a song about death. In particular, it is about the songwriter's own death. The imagery around the hoot owl is striking and consistent as is the use of echo in the orchestration. The words:
"There's been a hoot owl howlin' by my window now For six nights in a row She's coming for me I know And on Wildfire we're both gonna go"
"There's been a hoot owl howlin' by my window now For six nights in a row She's coming for me I know And on Wildfire we're both gonna go"
could not be clearer.
could not be clearer.
The introduction is elaborate because, whether he knew it or not, Murphey was setting the scene for us of another world. One none of us has ever visited. That's why the recording it has both a dream-like and haunting character.
The explaination of the woman is quite simple. She is a more romantic Grim Reaper. She is probably some kind of folklore legend. She was a settler that died one winter and her horse was so grief stricken that it ran away a died also. Now both her and her horse are charged with taking dead settlers' spirits to the other side.
The explaination of the woman is quite simple. She is a more romantic Grim Reaper. She is probably some kind of folklore legend. She was a settler that died one winter and her horse was so grief stricken that it ran away a died also. Now both her and her horse are charged with taking dead settlers' spirits to the other side.
With that being said, the song lays out like so. First verse he describes what he is waiting for. Second verse describes how what he is waiting for came to be. Third verse he describes how he got into the situation he is in to be waiting for the "Spectre of Death".
@Cache Kid
@Cache Kid
Thoughtful interpretation by Cache Kid. Historically correct and feels exactly right; consistent with the mood and music. Thanks!
Thoughtful interpretation by Cache Kid. Historically correct and feels exactly right; consistent with the mood and music. Thanks!
@Stoneformpally Except that the song specifically says that she went chasing after the horse. First he breaks out of his stall and runs off into the blizzard, and she runs after, calling for him. Both are presumed dead, but neither was ever found. I don't think she and the pony are "general" grim reapers. I don't see her as ferrying just any souls to the other side. I think that it's personal. The singer is someone she was close to, and in grace and love, it will be she and the pony (so he expects) sent to collect his soul and...
@Stoneformpally Except that the song specifically says that she went chasing after the horse. First he breaks out of his stall and runs off into the blizzard, and she runs after, calling for him. Both are presumed dead, but neither was ever found. I don't think she and the pony are "general" grim reapers. I don't see her as ferrying just any souls to the other side. I think that it's personal. The singer is someone she was close to, and in grace and love, it will be she and the pony (so he expects) sent to collect his soul and bring him to heaven, away from all the pain and toil of the mortal world. He's sure she's already on the way.
@Cache Kid I do appreciate your interpretation. The narrator could even have been her father. I've known Murph for a long time and even rode 500 miles of the Colorado Trail with him over 5 summers about 20 years ago. Even he isn't certain about who the "narrator" is and has often related how the song came to him in a dream. He feels that many interpretations of the lyrics are valid and is/has not been willing to place a "post facto" interpretation. The simple, lovely, haunting story stands on its own.
@Cache Kid I do appreciate your interpretation. The narrator could even have been her father. I've known Murph for a long time and even rode 500 miles of the Colorado Trail with him over 5 summers about 20 years ago. Even he isn't certain about who the "narrator" is and has often related how the song came to him in a dream. He feels that many interpretations of the lyrics are valid and is/has not been willing to place a "post facto" interpretation. The simple, lovely, haunting story stands on its own.