Mule Skinner Blues
Chris Barber/Lonnie Donegan/Van Morrison Lyrics
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Good mornin' captain, good mornin' shine
Do you need another mule skinner,
Workin' on your new road line?
My line's been rollin'
I'm rollin' all the time
My line is work
I can carve my initials (ha!)
On an old mule's behind
I said hey, little waterboy (hey!)
Bring that water bucket 'round
(bring it 'round, bring it 'round, bring it 'round, bring it 'round)
I said hey, little waterboy
Bring that water bucket 'round
And if you don't like your job
Shut that water bucket down
(stand up here!)
(instrumental)
Good morning captain, good mornin' shine
Good morning captain, good mornin' shine
Do you need another mule skinner,
Workin' on your new road line?
Well I like to work,
I'm rollin' all the time
Well I like to work,
I'm rollin' all the time
I can carve my initials
On an old mule's behind
I said, good mornin' captain
Good mornin' captain
I said good mornin' captain
Mornin' captain
Said good mornin' captain
Mornin' captain
I said good mornin' captain
Mornin' captain
Mornin' captain
Mornin' captain
Working on your new road line
The lyrics of "Mule Skinner Blues" sung by Chris Barber, Lonnie Donegan, and Van Morrison depict the life and grind of a mule skinner, who was responsible for leading and driving mules that pulled heavy loads, usually in construction or agricultural settings. The song begins with the singer greeting the captain and the shining sun, enquiring if the captain needs another mule skinner to work on his new road line. The lyrics also reflect the pride and skill of the mule skinner, as he boasts of his ability to carve his initials even on the backside of an old mule. The singer also commands a little waterboy to bring water around and threatens to shut the water bucket down if the boy does not like his job.
The song is a representation of a traditional American folk song that is believed to have originated in the early 1930s and has been covered by various artists, including Bill Monroe and Dolly Parton. Lonnie Donegan's version of the song became a massive hit in the UK in 1956, opening up the British skiffle craze. Van Morrison, who performed the song with Chris Barber in 1991, added his bluesy touch to the song, making it a unique interpretation. The song continues to be popular and is considered a classic in American music history.
Line by Line Meaning
Good mornin' captain, good mornin' shine
Greetings, captain and the shining sun.
Good mornin' captain, good mornin' shine
Greetings, captain and the shining sun.
Do you need another mule skinner, Workin' on your new road line?
Are you in need of another mule caretaker to work on your new construction project?
My line's been rollin', I'm rollin' all the time
I have been working without stoppage as it is my livelihood.
My line is work, I'm rollin' all the time
Working hard is my profession and I do it constantly.
I can carve my initials (ha!) On an old mule's behind
I can leave my mark on the backside of an aged donkey, just to show that I've worked with it.
I said hey, little waterboy (hey!) Bring that water bucket 'round (bring it 'round, bring it 'round, bring it 'round, bring it 'round)
I called the young water distributor over to bring me my drink, repeatedly.
I said hey, little waterboy Bring that water bucket 'round And if you don't like your job Shut that water bucket down
I urged the water distributor to bring me water, while threatening to end his employment if he disobeyed.
(stand up here!) (instrumental)
Here, an instrumental break is inserted for a building effect.
Good morning captain, good mornin' shine Good morning captain, good mornin' shine Do you need another mule skinner, Workin' on your new road line?
Greetings once again, captain and the shining sun. Are you still in need of another mule caretaker to work on your new construction project?
Well I like to work, I'm rollin' all the time
I find joy in the act of working hard constantly.
Well I like to work, I'm rollin' all the time
Performing my job regularly is something I enjoy.
I can carve my initials On an old mule's behind
Leaving a mark on an elderly donkey is something I'm able to do.
I said, good mornin' captain Good mornin' captain I said good mornin' captain Mornin' captain Said good mornin' captain Mornin' captain I said good mornin' captain Mornin' captain Mornin' captain Mornin' captain Working on your new road line
I greet the captain several times and remind him that I'm working on his road line construction project.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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