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,
Bad Little Doogie
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smellin' like something, I don't want to know
Your sister can't save you, she don't know what to do
Your bad behavior has finally caught up to you
Bad little doggie
Soul all tweeked out, life line thin
Blue violence, red rosaries
Roots of evil growing into trees
I'm through messin', time to learn your lesson
Bad little doggie
I'm through messin', time to learn your lesson
Bad little doggie
Come in with the sunrise, gone with the wind
Devil in your eyes, pocket full of sin
Fire can't melt you when your mind's made up
Ice can't cool you, naughty little pup
Bad little doggie
Bad little doggie
Bad little doggie
The lyrics to Gov't Mule's "Bad Little Doggie" paint a picture of a troubled individual who has found themselves caught up in their own bad behavior. The opening lines "Come in with the sunrise, who knows where you go, Smellin' like something, I don't want to know" suggest that the singer has been out all night and has likely been engaging in some kind of illicit behavior.
The chorus "Bad little doggie" reinforces this idea and hints at the fact that the singer may be behaving like an animal or acting on baser instincts. The later lines "Soul all tweeked out, life line thin, Loose little school girl, what a shape you're in" paint a darker picture of someone who is not only engaging in bad behavior but is also likely addicted to drugs or other vices.
The lyrics also suggest that the singer's actions may have alienated them from their loved ones with lines like "Your sister can't save you, she don't know what to do" and that they may be beyond saving. The final lines "Fire can't melt you when your mind's made up, Ice can't cool you, naughty little pup" suggest that even the most extreme methods of intervention would not work on this "bad little doggie".
Line by Line Meaning
Come in with the sunrise, who knows where you go
You arrive early in the morning, but no one knows where you go to and what you do.
Smellin' like something, I don't want to know
You emanate a foul odor that I find unpleasant and undesirable.
Your sister can't save you, she don't know what to do
Even your own sister cannot help you anymore because she does not know what to do with you.
Your bad behavior has finally caught up to you
Your reprehensible conduct in the past has finally resulted in repercussions.
Bad little doggie
You are a naughty and misbehaving little creature that needs to be corrected.
Soul all tweeked out, life line thin
Your soul is messed up and unstable, and your lifeline is precarious.
Loose little school girl, what a shape you're in
You, a young school girl, are in such a disheveled and upsetting state.
Blue violence, red rosaries
There is a mix of aggression and religiosity in you that is quite unsettling.
Roots of evil growing into trees
The origins of your wickedness have grown so deep and substantial that they resemble a tree.
I'm through messin', time to learn your lesson
I have had enough of playing around with you; it's time for you to learn a lesson.
Bad little doggie
You are a naughty and misbehaving little creature that needs to be corrected.
Come in with the sunrise, gone with the wind
You arrive early in the morning but leave quickly and unpredictably like the wind.
Devil in your eyes, pocket full of sin
Your eyes show the mischief and wickedness that you carry in your pocket like a sin.
Fire can't melt you when your mind's made up
You are so determined and unwavering that not even fire can stop you.
Ice can't cool you, naughty little pup
You are so hot-blooded and wilful that not even ice can calm you down, you little misbehaving creature.
Bad little doggie
You are a naughty and misbehaving little creature that needs to be corrected.
Bad little doggie
You are a naughty and misbehaving little creature that needs to be corrected.
Bad little doggie
You are a naughty and misbehaving little creature that needs to be corrected.
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ALLEN WOODY, MATTHEW ABTS, WARREN HAYNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guidosessa5075
One of the most accomplished guitar players in musicians that ever live
@tomn9094
No surprise decades of hard core southern rock kind of ends up here. No pretentious Nashville scene stands up with the Mule.
@jongray6159
Warren never disappoints!
@josephcostanzo5913
What a voice
...one of my favourite go to musicians for the mood
@platecrumb7161
Matt Abts is so fluid. Like he's playing underwater. Awesome!
@bobbyddrums1566
Most underrated drummer these guys all are yet they smoke any band in the last 30 years
@Ireland831
Holy Shit...so good. I still think this riff must have been born out of ZZ Top's "Just got Paid". One of those jams that takes on a live of its own. Anyone play both riffs....fo sho derivative of Just got Paid. I would love to interview Warren just to ask about the influence. Maybe I am wrong...either way...two songs that stand on their own and are so fricken good. This song rocks. This song makes me want to drum like Matt, (effortless and so funky). Warren is so sharp. Made me want to buy a Soldano and a Firebird...yeah boi
@j-ferrell144
I agree. I had just got paid riff stuck in my head and I was humming it trying to figure out what it was, I came here and realized that I think it was just got paid. But they both sound very similar !
But thatās ok, thereās only 12 notes on the guitar. So eventually u will have 2 songs sound similar. Both are good songs
@Ireland831
@J-Ferrell OK for sure. Inspiration can come from anywhere. This song rocks and for sure is a high water mark for Gov't Mule. What I meant by my whole post is if a band has ever waited for band members to show up to rehearsal, you might be jamming on a riff or drum pattern or some idea. This song just seems spawned from the just got paid riff. I would just love to ask Warren if it has any roots to that riff. No more....no less. Don't care either way. Amazing tune.
@scabcrawler632
Catch mule with zz top sometime. Super good