Mickey was inspired to write this song after attending a June Tabor concert at the Sage in Gateshead. Prior to singing 'And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda', June talked about John Simpson Kirkpatrick and lamented the fact that nobody had written a song about him. The following day, Mickey went to South Shields to see Jack's statue and visit the local library. He asked to be taken into the archives, where he garnered the information for him to write this song (circa 2005).
Lyrics:
The great North East, a coastal town
The racket and din of the fair
The man with the donkey, a penny a ride
Bairns and beast safe in his care
But just seventeen on the Heighington he sailed
Bid farewell to the Tyne
Newcastle, Australia, humping the bluey
To the goldfields from the coalmine
CHORUS
But there off the South Shields Shore
You'll see Jack Simpson
On Murphy's back still rests his gentle hand
Though the sands are quiet
Like Anzac Cove, deserted
Are you waiting for a ride from the Donkey Man
1914 aged 22
From the merchant marines he was hauled
Jumped ship out in Fremantle
But in Perth he answered the call
Sent back to sea, in Gallipoli
Was the hell that awaited the brave
1500 aboard, come that first day ashore
Half that number lay dead in the grave
REPEAT CHORUS
Jack laboured to rescue the injured
With his donkey they toiled alone
Bahadur, Duffy or Murphy
Saving men with shattered bone
Each day through Shrapnel Gully
Faced the fire from Dead Man's Ridge
In the trenches around Monash Valley
Not a soul could believe what he did
REPEAT CHORUS
So I turn away from the Shields' coast road
To the pub in the centre of town
On the wall I find his picture
To his name drink another round
There's no VC to honour him
No medal was pinned to his chest
But the donkey stands firm by his statue
And that's the way to remember him best
REPEAT CHORUS
Photo credits:
John Simpson Parkin, Adam Carr, James Scott, Skyring, Australian War Memorial. All other photos are understood to be in the public domain.