Dag Nasty(1985 - 1991)
Dave Smalley - vocals on #19
Peter Cortner - vocals on #26
Brian Baker - guitar
Roger Marbury - bass on #19
Doug Carrion - bass on #26
Colin Sears - drums
Mule
Dag Nasty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But Matt said, "Sorry - the show's not today"
Went to some punks' house and heard GBH
But we were thrown out when their mother came home
Hopped in the Mule and drove through the swamps
Ran out of gas for the 15th time
Waited around, hitched a ride
Then we rode away on our yellow Mule
But Reardon fucked up and we ran out of fuel
Went to McDonalds on a Wednesday night
My friends were bored, their conversation trite
But I had come for a bite of a filet-o-fish (filet o fish)
Colin said that it couldn't eat meat
Lost his appetite smelling Roger's feet
Played a lousy show in be -Town
But we got to watch Gitter's place burn down
Then we rode away on our yellow Mule
But Reardon fucked up and we ran out of fuel
We, we rode in on a Mule
O mais oui
We rode a Mule
The lyrics of Dag Nasty's song "Mule" are a vivid portrayal of a band's experience on tour, complete with the highs and lows of life on the road. The song encapsulates the sense of adventure and unpredictability that comes with being a touring musician, as well as the challenges and disappointments that can arise. The opening lines set the scene, as the band arrives in town ready to play, only to find out that the show has been cancelled. This sense of frustration is palpable, as the band is forced to improvise and find new ways to entertain themselves.
The next verse describes the band's attempts to get back on the road, as they drive through the swamps in their trusty "Mule" van. But even this iconic vehicle can't save them from running out of gas repeatedly, leaving them stranded and relying on the kindness of strangers to get by. The image of a jug of gas being poured into the van is a powerful one, evoking the desperation and resourcefulness of a band determined to keep going no matter what.
The next verse takes a more lighthearted turn, as the band stops at a McDonald's for a late-night snack. But even here, tensions arise, as the lead singer's vegetarianism clashes with his bandmates' carnivorous tendencies. The sense of camaraderie and shared experiences is still present, however, as they joke and tease each other about smelling bad or playing a "lousy show". Overall, "Mule" is a raw and honest portrayal of life on the road, full of humor, frustration, and the kind of bonding that can only come from shared experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Came into town ready to play
We arrived in town excited to perform our music.
But Matt said, "Sorry - the show's not today"
Matt informed us that our scheduled performance would not be happening.
Went to some punks' house and heard GBH
We visited a group of punk rockers and listened to the band GBH.
But we were thrown out when their mother came home
We were kicked out of the punk house by the mother of the residents.
Hopped in the Mule and drove through the swamps
We climbed aboard our vehicle, a yellow Mule, and drove through the swampy area.
Ran out of gas for the 15th time
Our vehicle had run out of fuel multiple times and happened to do so again.
Waited around, hitched a ride
We lingered in the area, hoping for someone to offer us a ride.
We got a jug and put a gallon inside
We retrieved a container to hold a small amount of fuel to continue our journey.
Then we rode away on our yellow Mule
We continued our travel in our vehicle, the yellow Mule.
But Reardon fucked up and we ran out of fuel
One of our bandmates, Reardon, made a mistake leading to our vehicle running out of fuel.
Went to McDonalds on a Wednesday night
We went to McDonald's on a weeknight.
My friends were bored, their conversation trite
My companions were uninterested and had mundane conversations.
But I had come for a bite of a filet-o-fish (filet o fish)
I specifically went to McDonald's to indulge in a filet-o-fish sandwich.
Colin said that it couldn't eat meat
One of my bandmates, Colin, mentioned that he was unable to consume meat.
Lost his appetite smelling Roger's feet
Colin's appetite was ruined after encountering the smell of Roger's feet.
Played a lousy show in be-Town
Our performance in a location known as be-Town was subpar.
But we got to watch Gitter's place burn down
We were able to witness the burning of Gitter's residence.
We, we rode in on a Mule
We journeyed in our vehicle, the yellow Mule.
O mais oui
A French phrase that doesn't appear to have a direct meaning or translation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MikeADFirenze9
Doug, Rog, Brian and company: please, more cow bell. Lots more.
cleanlaundry
agreed.
INDESTRUKTIBLE502
i think 'i wouldnt cry' is way better.
Nicky Reynolds
The lyrics to “I Wouldn’t Cry” are only half written, but these ones are kind of dumb. That said, I love dumb things and tour stories, so I actually like this a lot.