It was the first gig the Gunnedah man had missed in four years, and a coincidence that quite possibly saved his life.

Near Singleton the car that carried his Good Corn Liquor bandmates collided with another vehicle, it killed singer Stu McKenzie and the driver and seriously injured drummer Ben McCauley and bass player Nick Wright.

Murphy’s latest release Miss Eniline is the first inclination he’s leaving his survivor’s guilt behind.

“When I came back from overseas I went to the hospital and had a yak with the boys about what happened,” Murphy said.

“It really shook the foundations.

“That was always the idea for me, to close a few doors and open a few  – to feel good about it in as far as feeling good about loss goes.”

Murphy wrote his latest while hanging out the washing and so far it’s been the first dance song at four weddings.

The song is about love, finding the person that represents the end of the line in relationships.

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Written seven years ago, the song really came into its own now that Murphy is partnered up with alternative country music artist Tori Forsyth.

Back then the meaning was more conceptual than a reflection of real life, Murphy said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever written any other songs at the clothes line to be honest I don’t spend enough time there,” he said.

“A couple of nights later I woke up at stupid o’clock and wrote the verses.”

From the album Carousel Keepsakes, Miss Eniline appeared on Good Corn Liquor’s first self-titled EP.

Carl the Bartender will perform at Day with the Devils in Gunnedah alongside Hurricane Fall, February 23.

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