Uploaded August 2017 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Martin Simpson's new album, Trails & Tribulations is out now and available from ► Townsend (incl. signed guitar tab + pick): http://smarturl.it/zgwt3p ► Amazon: http://smarturl.it/6rgrrf ► iTunes: http://smarturl.it/ni0ahs ► Spotify: http://smarturl.it/sg7l17 and all good record stores.
In Martin's own words "While researching notes for my recent recording with Dom Flemons, “A Selection Of Ever Popular Favourites,” on Fledgling Records, I came across a contemporary newspaper account of the execution of John Hardy. It was a brutal story in every way. John Hardy shot Thomas Drew who had won 25c from him in a crap game. He was tried, sentenced to death and hanged in front of a crowd of 3000. The paper reported that Hardy was baptized on the day of his execution and blamed his crime on whisky. When the trap dropped, Hardy’s neck was not broken by the fall and he took 17 and half minutes to die. The song, “John Hardy” leaves out a great deal, particularly about his victim…. I thought Thomas Drew deserved his own song."
► Website: martinsimpson.com
► Facebook: facebook.com/OfficialMartinSimpson
► Twitter: twitter.com/msimpsonian
Martin Simpson uses D’Addario Strings exclusively.
daddario.com
Sponsored by PRS Guitars.
prsguitars.com
Video filmed and edited by Jim Lockey:
handheldcineclub.com
Martin Simpson's new album, Trails & Tribulations is out now and available from ► Townsend (incl. signed guitar tab + pick): http://smarturl.it/zgwt3p ► Amazon: http://smarturl.it/6rgrrf ► iTunes: http://smarturl.it/ni0ahs ► Spotify: http://smarturl.it/sg7l17 and all good record stores.
In Martin's own words "While researching notes for my recent recording with Dom Flemons, “A Selection Of Ever Popular Favourites,” on Fledgling Records, I came across a contemporary newspaper account of the execution of John Hardy. It was a brutal story in every way. John Hardy shot Thomas Drew who had won 25c from him in a crap game. He was tried, sentenced to death and hanged in front of a crowd of 3000. The paper reported that Hardy was baptized on the day of his execution and blamed his crime on whisky. When the trap dropped, Hardy’s neck was not broken by the fall and he took 17 and half minutes to die. The song, “John Hardy” leaves out a great deal, particularly about his victim…. I thought Thomas Drew deserved his own song."
► Website: martinsimpson.com
► Facebook: facebook.com/OfficialMartinSimpson
► Twitter: twitter.com/msimpsonian
Martin Simpson uses D’Addario Strings exclusively.
daddario.com
Sponsored by PRS Guitars.
prsguitars.com
Video filmed and edited by Jim Lockey:
handheldcineclub.com
![Martin Simpson - The Granemore Hare [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eloEVRMluag/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - The Granemore Hare [Official Audio]
The Granemore Hare by Martin Simpson from Prodigal Son released in 2007 on Topic Records. Available to buy, stream and download here: https://smarturl.it/prodigal-son")
![Martin Simpson - Bareback to Bullhassocks [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f365J6-4-C4/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - Bareback to Bullhassocks [Official Audio]
Bareback to Bullhassocks by Martin Simpson from Kind Letters released in 2005 on Topic Records. Available to buy, stream and download here: https://smarturl.it/KindLetters")
![Martin Simpson - Greystones [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fQkMQNbomZ0/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - Greystones [Official Audio]
Greystones by Martin Simpson from True Stories released in 2009 on Topic Records. Available to buy, stream and download here: https://smarturl.it/TrueStoriesMS")
![Martin Simpson - Banks of Sweet Primroses [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fTC4yTQLj74/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - Banks of Sweet Primroses [Official Audio]
Banks of Sweet Primroses by Martin Simpson from The Bramble Briar released in 2001 on Topic Records. Available to buy, stream and download here: https://smarturl.it/BrambleBriar")
![Martin Simpson - The Times They Are A-Changin [official audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fUqgFB85pH8/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - The Times They Are A-Changin [official audio]
Home Recordings, the new album from Martin Simpson, is out now: https://smarturl.it/martinsimpsonhome
► Website: http://www.martinsimpson.com/
► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMartinSimpson/
► Twitter: https://twitter.com/msimpsonian/
► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martinsimpsonmusic/
► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5nUScDmyGIvoX7ol79YnBQ
Martin Simpson uses D’Addario Strings exclusively.
http://www.daddario.com/
Sponsored by PRS Guitars.
http://www.prsguitars.com/")
![Martin Simpson - Sir Patrick Spens [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fgooBetxPqM/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - Sir Patrick Spens [Official Audio]
Sir Patrick Spens by Martin Simpson from True Stories released in 2009 on Topic Records. Available to buy, stream and download here: https://smarturl.it/TrueStoriesMS")
![Martin Simpson - Bold General Wolfe [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/g40OP3fqpkM/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - Bold General Wolfe [Official Audio]
Bold General Wolfe by Martin Simpson from Purpose + Grace released in 2011 on Topic Records. Available to buy, stream and download here: https://smarturl.it/PurposeGrace")
![Martin Simpson - Your Cheatin Heart [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gGIoRkYahoA/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - Your Cheatin Heart [Official Audio]
Your Cheatin Heart by Martin Simpson from Grinning in Your Face released in 1983 on Topic Records. Available to buy, stream and download here: https://smarturl.it/GrinningInYourFace")
![Martin Simpson - Dives and Lazarus [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gQVzuwNa1nU/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - Dives and Lazarus [Official Audio]
Dives and Lazarus by Martin Simpson from The Bramble Briar released in 2001 on Topic Records. Available to buy, stream and download here: https://smarturl.it/BrambleBriar")
![Martin Simpson - Horn Island [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gybcEYjsBO4/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - Horn Island [Official Audio]
Horn Island by Martin Simpson from Righteousness & Humidity released in 2003 on Topic Records. Available to buy, stream and download here: https://smarturl.it/Righteousness")
![Martin Simpson - Barbry Allen [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hiwhIBujoCc/mqdefault.jpg "Martin Simpson - Barbry Allen [Official Audio]
Barbry Allen by Martin Simpson from Purpose + Grace released in 2011 on Topic Records. Available to buy, stream and download here: https://smarturl.it/PurposeGrace")
