Murder Ballads are going out of style, for good reason.

When news was shared in song, this was a way to preserve a particular story, and these songs were about real people, real crimes. But somewhere along in the last ten years, women who paid attention began to notice that it was usually domestic violence, known perps, with female victims. Before updating my IBMA prizewinning lesson [free download]  on murder ballads, I decided to write one myself.

PLEASE WATCH ON YOUTUBE SO YOU CAN LIKE IT.

Debrina's On Fire is about Debrina Kawam, a 60-ish woman who died on the NY City subway just before Christmas in 2024, when a stranger set her on fire as she slept. I ride the metro a lot, and Debrina's story really affected me.

I wrote her tribute song soon after, but finding someone to produce it was tough. I'm no longer in Nashville, with the 1-2-3 of studios, producers and musicians ready to produce and play for pay. Instead, it became a Barcelona, Spain project with friends from the bluegrass community here (al Ras). 

It's humbling and exhilarating to work with others, something I don't always do well. But I'm very pleased with the song, both the recording and the Video on YouTube. I gave myself a professionally produced video as a birthday present for my 70th, knowing it's been years since I released a song and it could be my swan song, my last song.

It's On The Radio!

Debrina's On Fire was downloaded by enough college and folk radio program directors to reach #2 in that market in February… of course I want YOU to hear it. If you like it please, watch it in YouTube, Like It there, maybe even share it to spread the message of compassion.

You can also stream it on your favorite streaming service. Here's the Lyrics & Chords, hey, it's a folk song, sing out. A tribute song is my way of lighting a candle, for Debrina.

DEBRINA’S ON FIRE          Deborah Wilbrink, ©2026 (BMI)                                         C3

YOUNG MAN KNIFED THE CONDUCTOR, SENT THE SUBWAY ON A STRIKE              C/F/G/C

GUNSHOTS FROM A RIDER MEANS DIVE ON ANOTHER DEATHLY RIDE                    C/F/CG/C

ONE THOUSAND OF NEW YORK’S FINEST NOW PATROL THE METRO STATIONS     C/F/G/C

BUT YOU CAN’T BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE IN MASS TRANSPORTATION                 C/F/CG/C

CRIME IS GOING DOWN, BUT THE CRIMES ARE GETTING WORSE                          F/G/C/F

POOR DEBRINA’S ON FIRE, THE COPS ARE CALLING THE HEARSE                           Am/F/CG/C

WHO CARES WHEN THE DESPERATE DIE, WHO CARES WHEN THE CRAZY CRY?    F/G/C/F

POOR DEBRINA’S ON FIRE, AND NOBODY KNOWS WHY                                         Am/F/CG/C

DEBRINA RODE THE F LINE THROUGH DECEMBER’S FREEZING COLD                       C/F/G/C

GAVE HER DREAMS UP YEARS AGO, LIKE A BLANKET GROWING MOLD                   C/F/CG/C

THAT MILLION DOLLAR SMILE SHE HAD - BOUGHT NOTHING LIKE A HOME            C/F/G/C

SO TO CONEY ISLAND AND BACK AGAIN, DEBRINA RODE ALONE                             C/F/CG/C

CHORUS

THE SLAYER MARKED HER HELPLESS, A WOMAN HUDDLED AND STILL                    C/F/G/C

FLICKED HIS LIGHTER, SET HER ON FIRE, OUT O’ PURE ILL WILL                               C/(F)/CG/C

JUMPED OUT, TURNED BACK, COULDN’T LET HER STORY LIVE                                 C^/F^/CG/C

CRUELLY FANNED THE FLAMES ON THE TRAIN WITH ALL HE HAD TO GIVE             C/F/CG/C

CHORUS, REPEAT LAST LINE