Mule Skinner Blues
Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you need another mule skinner
Out on your new road line
Well I like to work
I'm rolling all the time
Lord I like to work boy
I'm rolling all the time
Right on a mule's behind
Well it's hey little water boy bring your water 'round
Lord it's hey little water boy bring your water 'round
And if you don't like your job just set that water bucket down
I work out on the new road from a dollar and a dime a day
Lord I work out on the new road I make a dollar and a dime a day
I've got three women on Saturday night
Waiting to draw my pay
Well I'm going to town honey what can I bring you back
Well I'm going to town baby what can I bring you back
Just bring a pint of good rye
And a John B.Stetson hat
Lord it's raining here and it's storming on the deep blue sea
Lord it's raining here and it's storming on the deep blue sea
Can't no blonde headed woman make a monkey out for me
If your house catches fire and there ain't no water 'round
If your house catches fire and there ain't no water 'round
Just throw your good gal out the window let your house just burn on down
Well I'm leaving here and I ain't gonna take no clothes
I'm leaving here and I ain't gonna take no clothes
There may be good times in this old town but it's better on down the road
"Mule Skinner Blues" is a traditional bluegrass song that tells the story of a hard-working laborer who takes pride in his job. The song begins with the singer asking if the captain needs another mule skinner on his new road line, expressing his desire to work and "roll all the time." He even boasts that he can "pop his initials right on a mule's behind," indicating his expertise and confidence in his job.
The chorus brings in the water boy, who is asked to bring water around, and the singer advises that if someone does not like their job, they should "just set that water bucket down." The second verse talks about how the singer works on the new road for a dollar and a dime a day and has three women waiting for him to receive his pay on Saturday night. The third verse mentions the singer going to town and bringing back some rye and a Stetson hat, followed by a suggestion that no blonde-headed woman can make a monkey out of him. The final verse talks about what to do in case of a fire, advising to save oneself and let the house burn down. The song ends with the singer leaving town and heading down the road, believing there are better times ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Good morning captain good morning son
Addressing the two men in charge of the work and greeting them
Do you need another mule skinner
Asking if they need another worker to handle mules
Out on your new road line
Referring to the construction of a new road that needs extra workers
Well I like to work
Expressing a liking for working, especially with mules
I'm rolling all the time
Enjoying the constant movement and work
Lord I like to work boy
Continuing to express a love for working even when it is hard
I'm rolling all the time
Repeating a previous line to underscore how much the singer likes working
I can pop my initials
Boasting about the ability to mark mules' behinds with one's own initials
Right on a mule's behind
Emphasizing the singer's skill at marking mules with his initials
Well it's hey little water boy bring your water 'round
Calling out to the water boy for a drink of water
Lord it's hey little water boy bring your water 'round
Repeating the call for water
And if you don't like your job just set that water bucket down
Offering advice to the water boy to quit his job if he doesn't like it
I work out on the new road from a dollar and a dime a day
Relating the meager wages earned for such hard work
Lord I work out on the new road I make a dollar and a dime a day
Repeating the low wage for emphasis
I've got three women on Saturday night waiting to draw my pay
Boasting about the singer's popularity with women because of his wages
Well I'm going to town honey what can I bring you back
Asking a loved one what they would like brought back from town
Well I'm going to town baby what can I bring you back
Repeating the request for input on what to bring back from town
Just bring a pint of good rye and a John B.Stetson hat
Being tasked with bringing back some alcohol and a specific brand of hat
Lord it's raining here and it's storming on the deep blue sea
Observing the bad weather occurring in the area
Lord it's raining here and it's storming on the deep blue sea
Repeating the observation for emphasis
Can't no blonde headed woman make a monkey out for me
Asserting that no woman can trick or fool the singer
If your house catches fire and there ain't no water 'round
Offering advice on what to do should a fire occur without access to water
Just throw your good gal out the window let your house just burn on down
Encouraging leaving one's loved one inside in case of a fire as safety is more important
Well I'm leaving here and I ain't gonna take no clothes
Announcing the intention to leave immediately without taking any belongings
There may be good times in this old town but it's better on down the road
Acknowledging that there may be good times in the current town but leaving anyway to find new and better experiences elsewhere
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind