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,
Brighter Days
Gov't Mule Lyrics
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If I sleep till I wake, will I remember the dream
If I lie to myself, will I have something to believe in
If I face my fears, will I know what they mean
Long for brighter days far behind me
Before my life was just a haze
When love was still inside me
If I find myself, tell me will I lose me to others
If I hang my head, will I feel the spirit of my mother
If I bury my face, will I uncover the truth
If I slow my pace, will the past gain on me
Long for brighter days far behind me
Before my life was just a haze
When love was still inside me
Long for brighter days far behind me
Before my life was just a haze
When love was still inside me
The lyrics to Gov't Mule's song "Brighter Days" touch on existential themes of identity, memory, belief, fear, and love. The song asks a series of questions about life and what comes after, with the underlying theme of longing for the past when things were simpler and love was still present. The first stanza poses a series of questions about the consequences of our choices - will we be rewarded for living a good life, will we remember our dreams when we wake up, will lying to ourselves give us something to believe in, and will facing our fears help us understand them? The second stanza continues in this vein, asking whether we can find ourselves without losing ourselves to others, whether we can feel a spiritual connection to our loved ones when we feel down, whether uncovering the truth will require us to confront ourselves, and whether slowing down will help us make peace with our past.
Throughout the song, the theme of longing for brighter days is repeated, with the memory of a life when love was still present serving as a symbol of a time when things were better. The lyrics also suggest a certain anxiety about aging, memory, and loss of self, as well as a desire for spiritual connection and understanding. Overall, "Brighter Days" is a reflective and introspective song that speaks to universal questions about the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
If I live till I die, will I be justly rewarded
Will I receive fair compensation for my life's work when my time comes to an end?
If I sleep till I wake, will I remember the dream
Will my subconscious revelations be retained when I attain consciousness?
If I lie to myself, will I have something to believe in
In deceiving oneself, am I provided with a source of comfort or justification for actions taken?
If I face my fears, will I know what they mean
Will I be able to decipher the true reasoning behind my anxieties if I directly confront them?
Long for brighter days far behind me
Nostalgic yearning for past times of optimism and hope.
Before my life was just a haze
Before times of confusion, disorientation, and uncertainty existed in my daily existence.
When love was still inside me
When strong emotions of affection, empathy, and care were still fully present inside of me.
If I find myself, tell me will I lose me to others
If I discover my true identity, am I at risk of surrendering that to the outside world?
If I hang my head, will I feel the spirit of my mother
If I display a sign of shame or remorse, will I sense the comforting presence of a loved one who has passed?
If I bury my face, will I uncover the truth
Could it be possible that my physical sheltering masks the reality of what lies ahead?
If I slow my pace, will the past gain on me
Is there a potential for past events to catch up to me if I choose to move forward slower?
Long for brighter days far behind me
Continued longing for the past times of radiance, promise, and hope.
Before my life was just a haze
Prior to the period of time characterized by confusion, disorientation, and uncertainty.
When love was still inside me
During the time when feelings of strong affection, care, and empathy were still entirely present within me.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: WARREN HAYNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind