The Bombing of Naco

"The Bombing of Naco" is a folk song written by Dolan Ellis, the official State Balladeer of Arizona, about the 1929 bombing of Naco by the Irish mercenary Patrick Murphy.^[1] It can be found on Ellis' album Tall Tales, Lost Trails & Heroes.^[2]

Lyrics

Well, his name was Patrick Murphy, he was Irish through and through,

He came from Mother Ireland, cross the ocean wide and blue.

He was kind of wild and wooly in the crazy things he'd do,

He loved his Irish whiskey and the biplane that he flew.

Out in Bisbee, Arizona, he was sittin' in a bar.

A-spittin 'Irish whiskey to the music of guitars,

A-talkin' 'bout the rebel and the federale war

In the border town of Naco, on the Arizona shore.^[1]

Now, as he downs another shooter, Patrick Murphy starts to brag,

"I salute the rebel spirit ... I salute them scallywags.

I could blow them federales all the way to kingdom come

From the cockpit of me biplane ... with me little homemade bombs."

So he found some leather pouches and he fills 'em up just right

He puts 'em in his cockpit and he takes 'em fer a flight

To help them rebel soldiers was an Irishman's delight.^[1]

Now there were two towns called Naco on the border down below;

One was in America, the other in Mexico.

Murphy and his whiskey weren't too accurate that day,

He missed the one in Mexico ... and he bombed the U.S.A.

"He's gonna kill us all!" said the feds and rebels, too.

"Someone shoot him down, it's the only thing to do!"

A federale shot his plane and Murphy's war was through.^[1]

Now, history doesn't know where Patrick Murphy is today.

When he finally sobered up, he kinda quickly went away.

Yes, he faded with his biplane to some other place and time

Cuz to bomb ol' Arizona was a heavy duty crime.

So, lads, go tell yer fathers and yer sisters and yer mums

The moral of me story that I've sung ya in me song

That in all the U.S. wars from Valley Forge to old Saddam

'Tis the only time in history the mainland has been bombed.^[1]

It was the day we all got bombed down in Naco

I ain't talkin' 'bout tequilla from the bar.

So, if yer down there drinkin' margaritas with yer tacos, Bucko,

Remember Patrick Murphy ... remember Patrick Murphy

Remember Patrick Murphy and his war.^[1]

See also

• Siege of Naco

References

1. Ellis, Dolan; Sam Lowe (2014). Arizona Lens, Lyrics and Lore. Inkwell Productions. ISBN 9781939625601.
2. Tracks and Trails - Sounds, tucsoncitizen.com; 21-12-2000