Gov't Mule is a southern rock/jam band formed in 1994 as a side project to … Read Full Bio ↴Gov't Mule is a southern rock/jam band formed in 1994 as a side project to The Allman Brothers Band, but has taken on a life of its own. Like many jam bands, Gov't Mule does not get much radio airplay but is popular due to constant touring and intense fan loyalty.

When the Allman Brothers Band reformed in 1989 in response to the popularity of the Dreams box set, Warren Haynes was added on lead guitar and Allen Woody on bass. The two shared a love for '60s power trios, like Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and James Gang. With no bands making similar music in the 90s (except ZZ Top), Haynes, Woody, and former Dickey Betts drummer Matt Abts came together as Gov't Mule during Allman Brothers' breaks. (It is likely that Haynes and Abts first met during the recording of the Dickey Betts Band CD "Pattern Disruptive" in 1988.) They released their debut album the selftitled Gov't Mule in 1995. It was followed by Live from Roseland Ballroom.

When it became apparent that the Allman Brothers weren't planning on recording any new material, Haynes and Woody left to concentrate full-time on Gov't Mule in 1997. Dose, the studio follow up to their first studio effort, was released in early 1998. They were joined by members of the Allman Brothers, the Black Crowes, and Parliament/Funkadelic for their 1998 New Year's Eve concert. This was released in both a two and four CD version as Live ... With A Little Help From Our Friends. The band exposed some of their roots with covers of Neil Young, Free, Traffic, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Mongo Santamaria (via John Coltrane) and Frank Zappa.

In 2000, the band released Life Before Insanity to critical praise. Many thought that this would be Gov't Mule's breakthrough CD. However, Woody was found dead in New York City in August. Haynes and Abts considered breaking up the band but did stage a concert called "One for Woody" to raise money for his daughter's education. The Allman Brothers, the Black Crowes, members of the Grateful Dead, and other friends of Woody also performed at the concert.

At both the "One for Woody" performance and other shows, Haynes began appearing with the Allman Brothers Band again. With Dickey Betts' departure from the Allmans, Warren came back full time to the band at the beginning of 2001 and has continued splitting his time between the Allmans and for a period Phil Lesh and Friends and the reformed Dead as well as Gov't Mule (performing acoustic gigs with just Haynes on guitar and Abts on percussion and as The New School of Gov't Mule with Widespread Panic's Dave Schools on bass and Chuck Leavell, formerly of the Allman Brothers and known for his current work with the Rolling Stones on keyboards).

The next year, Haynes and Abts began to record a tribute CD using Woody's favorite bass players. These sessions resulted in two CDs The Deep End, Volume 1 (2001) and The Deep End, Volume 2 (2002). A documentary of the recording sessions was also made by Phish bassist Mike Gordon called Rising Low. Bass contributions to the CDs came from Jack Bruce of Cream, John Entwisle of The Who, Mike Watt of Minutemen, Les Claypool of Primus, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Chris Squire of Yes among others.

When it came to touring in support of the Deep End CDs, Haynes and Abts used a revolving door of keyboardists and bassists. Keyboardists included Chuck Leavell, Rob Barraco of Phil Lesh and Friends and Zen Tricksters, Phish's Page McConnell and Danny Louis. Bassists included among others, Dave Schools, Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers, Les Claypool, Victor Wooten of the Flecktones, George Porter Jr. of The Meters, Greg Rzab formerly of The Black Crowes and the Buddy Guy Band and Andy Hess, also formerly of The Black Crowes. Louis and Hess were eventually added as permanent members of Gov't Mule. They continue to tour extensively and have become staple acts at many music festivals including Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, Vegoose, and their annual New Orleans Jazzfest night show (where they filmed and recorded the last show of the Deepest End tours, with 17 guest musicians in a 6 hour show) wich was released on CD/DVD as The Deepest End, Live in Concert.

The first CD with Louis and Hess Deja Voodoo was released in September 2004. Additional material from those sessions was released in 2005 as and EP entitled Mo' Voodoo.
The new lineup's second release, titled High and Mighty, was released on August 22, 2006.
A third, Mighty High, was released in 2007 it features reggae and dub versions of classic Mule covers and originals with special guest appearances by Willi Williams, Michael Franti and Toots Hibbert,

Any Open Window
Gov't Mule Lyrics

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Dedicated to Mitch Mitchell and Buddy Miles

Everybody says you’re lost
Too far from home
The more we try to pull you in
The further down the road you’re gone but
You can always come back
You can always come on home

You remember what to do
Just rise on up and climb on through
Any open window

I don’t know what happened baby
I don’t really care
All that matters right now
Is the love we share
You’ve always been a friend of mine
And you’re always gonna be
Whatever’s got a hold on you now
I know that you can break free and climb on through
Any open window

I used to spend all my time
Trying to build a bridge back to you

You told me I could always come back
Now I’m telling you, you can always come back to me too
Just climb on through
Any open window

Climb on through, climb on through, climb on through

Overall Meaning

In Gov't Mule's song Any Open Window, the singer speaks to someone who they feel is lost and too far from home. They express concern that the more they try to pull this person in, the farther they go down the wrong road. Despite this, the singer assures them that they can always come home, and that they remember what to do to get there. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "any open window," suggesting that there is always a way back to where they belong.

The second verse of the song finds the singer expressing their lack of concern about what may have happened to bring the other person to this point. All that matters to them is the love they share with this person, and that no matter what is holding them back, they believe they can break free and come back home. The bridge of the song speaks to the singer's previous attempts to build a bridge back to this person, and how now they are telling them that there is always a way back, and they can always climb on through any open window.

Line by Line Meaning

Everybody says you’re lost
It's a general consensus that you're lost

Too far from home
You're too far away from your roots

The more we try to pull you in
We try harder to bring you back

The further down the road you’re gone but
But you're still moving away

You can always come back
You're always welcome back

You can always come on home
You can always return home

You remember what to do
You know how to get here

Just rise on up and climb on through
Just get yourself up and move back in

Any open window
Use any opportunity to come back

I don’t know what happened baby
I'm clueless about why you left

I don’t really care
But that doesn't matter too much now