Early Years at His Grandfather’s Ranch
Murphey grew up in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas. As a boy, he spent a lot of time on ranches owned by his uncle and grandfather. The time he spent riding horses and falling asleep under the wide-open Texas sky had a profound effect on him. Camping at his grandfather’s ranch and listening to stories and songs about ranchers and cowboys were memories he drew on as a songwriter in his adult years.
These tales also influenced his appetite for reading. He loved books by authors like Mark Twain and William Faulkner. Their stories brought landscapes to life and made them just as exciting as the characters.
As a child, he also discovered the songs of country music’s biggest star, Hank Williams. Williams’s image-driven songs later influenced Murphey’s own compositions.
In his teens and early adulthood, Murphey played in bands and toured the Texas music circuit. He studied Greek at the University of North Texas and was active in their Folk Music Club. During his college years, he moved to California and studied several subjects, including creative writing and medieval history, at the University of California in Los Angeles.
The diverse subjects Murphy paired well with his love of the Southwest’s rugged terrain. This allowed Murphey to compose songs full of rich imagery—a yearning for the days when ranches outnumbered shopping malls—and create stories that leave listeners wanting more.
‘A Rose in the Desert’
One of Murphey’s favorite childhood stories told by his grandfather was about a horse-spirit that traveled the desert of the Southwest, helping people who were in trouble. When he was older, he had a vivid dream about the haunting story and decided to write a song about it. Titled “Wildfire,” the song, which draws heavily from this childhood tale, became a huge hit and Murphey’s trademark track.
Gentler in nature, “Land of Enchantment” remains a listener-favorite and draws on similar songwriting techniques. Like “Wildfire,” the song tells an interesting story. Listeners learn of a lovestruck protagonist yearning for his love, “a rose in the desert,” who he misses terribly as he roams “far across the sea.”
New Mexico’s Official State Ballad
Before New Mexico officially became known as the “Land of Enchantment,” officials tried to make “The Sunshine State” work. But Florida quickly adopted that slogan. Journalist Lilian Whiting first used the term “land of enchantment” in 1906 in a travel guide about the southwestern states. In 1935, New Mexico’s tourism department included the phrase in its marketing materials while trying to attract new visitors.
Though Murphey’s 1989 song refers to New Mexico as the “land of enchantment,” the state didn’t officially adopt that nickname until the 1990s. Before the single’s debut, state officials had been trying for years to make the phrase catch on. Murphey’s song helped their cause. The same year the song was released, the state of New Mexico adopted it as their official ballad in March.
A Prominent Voice of Western Cowboy Culture
As Murphey rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s, he quickly became known as a “musical voice for the Western horseman, rancher, and cowboy.” Through his musical efforts and personal endeavors, he worked to keep the spirit of the American cowboy alive and well in the world. His songs capture the struggles and triumphs of the Southwest so well that many of music’s biggest names went on to cover his music, including John Denver, Johnny Cash, and Kenny Rogers.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, when more and more country acts were adopting the crisp, pop-oriented sound produced by Nashville studios, Murphey stayed true to his roots with a clean, natural sound and lyrics that paid tribute to the ranchers before him.
As a prominent voice of western cowboy culture, he received multiple awards from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
“Land of Enchantment,” his yearning, romantic ballad, best exemplifies his gratitude for the beloved southwestern states that shaped him, and the boundless land that made him one of America’s most gifted and artistically adventurous singing cowboys.
