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,
Bring On The Music
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Got something to say)
People I woke up this morning
I thought it was just a dream
Another real good friend of mine
Lost his way it seems
Shook my head and wondered
Made me stop and realize it's time to love one another
(It's time to love one another)
So, bring on the darkness
Tonight is gonna be our friend
Bring on the crowd
We're all family in the end
Bring on the smoke and mirrors
Spread a little love across the night
And bring on the music
Everything's gonna be alright
(Gonna be alright)
Thought I heard a stranger calling out my name
Wasn't so loud just so nice and plain
Made me ask myself and wonder
Is it my time
But I got so much to live for
(So much to live for)
So, bring on the darkness
Tonight is gonna be our friend
Bring on the crowd
We're all family in the end
Bring on the smoke and mirrors
Spread a little love across the night
And bring on the music
Everything's gonna be alright
(Gonna be alright)
People when I lay down this evening
At the end of a long hard day
I don't want to be another brother
That's lost his way
I want to look around me
And cherish everything I see
I want to look behind me
And know this is my destiny
I want to keep rejoicing
Till I said all I got to say
And when my voice is gone
Wanna pick up my guitar and play
(wanna pick up my guitar and play)
(Oh, pick up my guitar and play)
So, bring on the darkness
Tonight is gonna be our friend
Bring on the crowd
We're all family in the end
Bring on the smoke and mirrors
Spread a little love across the night
And bring on the music
Everything's gonna be alright
(Gonna be alright)
Governor Mule's “Bring On The Music” is an anthem of hope, perseverance, and friendship. In the opening lines, the singer proclaims his desire to communicate with the audience and convey his message of solidarity. He then admits to waking up and finding out that a close friend has lost his way. This scene awakens the artists to the pain and uncertainty of the world around him. However, he calls for the darkness, the crowd, the smoke and mirrors, and the music to bring us all together.
The chorus of the song is repeated several times, with the phrase "everything's gonna be alright" as the main motif. It is a call to arms, a reminder that no matter how hard things may seem, there is always hope in the endurance of friendship, the comfort of music, and the promise of a better tomorrow. The guitar solo at the end of the song is a cathartic release from everything that has come before it, and it brings the listener to a place of inner peace and understanding.
Overall, "Bring On the Music" is an uplifting song that inspires listeners to come together, persevere, and find strength in each other. It is a reminder that no matter how hard things may get, there is always hope and love in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
(Want to tell ya a story)
The singer has something he wants to express through his song.
(Got something to say)
The singer has a message he wants to convey through his lyrics.
People I woke up this morning
The singer starts off his day, feeling hopeful and positive.
I thought it was just a dream
The singer was happy, but he thought it was too good to be true.
Another real good friend of mine
The singer is saddened by the fact that another one of his friends is in trouble.
Lost his way it seems
The singer's friend is going through a rough patch in life and needs help.
Shook my head and wondered
The singer is puzzled by the suffering of his friends.
What's happening to all my brothers
The singer is concerned for the well-being of his community.
Made me stop and realize it's time to love one another
The singer recognizes that the world needs more love and unity.
(It's time to love one another)
The singer emphasizes the importance of showing love and compassion to those around us.
So, bring on the darkness
The singer is excited to perform and entertain people.
Tonight is gonna be our friend
The singer is looking forward to a fun-filled night with the audience.
Bring on the crowd
The singer wants a lively and energetic crowd to engage with him.
We're all family in the end
The singer sees his fans as his extended family.
Bring on the smoke and mirrors
The singer wants to create a dramatic and engaging performance for his fans.
Spread a little love across the night
The singer wants to spread positivity and love through his music.
And bring on the music
The singer is ready to share his gift of music with the world.
Everything's gonna be alright
The singer is optimistic that everything will work out fine in the end.
(Gonna be alright)
The singer is reassuring his fans that everything will work out okay.
Thought I heard a stranger calling out my name
The singer is unsure of his identity and is experiencing an existential crisis.
Wasn't so loud just so nice and plain
The singer's life is not very loud or flamboyant but it's peaceful and ordinary.
Made me ask myself and wonder
The singer is curious about his purpose in life.
Is it my time
The singer is contemplating if it's his time to leave this world.
But I got so much to live for
The singer is acknowledging that he has a lot to live for and achieve in life.
(So much to live for)
The singer emphasizes how much he values his life and relationships.
People when I lay down this evening
The singer is reflecting on his life as he prepares to go to bed.
At the end of a long hard day
The singer had a long and tiring day but he's satisfied with what he accomplished.
I don't want to be another brother
The singer doesn't want to lose his way and fall into the same trap as his friends.
That's lost his way
The singer's friends have lost their purpose and direction in life.
I want to look around me
The singer wants to appreciate the beauty around him and cherish it.
And cherish everything I see
The singer values the people and objects around him that make his life meaningful.
I want to look behind me
The singer wants to reflect on his past and the choices he's made.
And know this is my destiny
The singer is confident that he's on the right path and fulfilling his destiny.
I want to keep rejoicing
The singer wants to keep celebrating his life and achievements.
Till I said all I got to say
The singer will keep producing music until he's communicated everything he wants to say through it.
And when my voice is gone
The singer acknowledges that his voice won't last forever, and he wants to make the most of it while he can.
Wanna pick up my guitar and play
The singer wants to use his guitar to continue spreading love and positivity in the world.
(wanna pick up my guitar and play)
The singer emphasizes his love for music and how it brings him joy.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WARREN HAYNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MoparMan71
The Mule is like a fine wine, just keeps getting better with age....top shelf! The best! Thank you for sharing your talents! Warren, Matt, Jorgen, and Danny I love you guys! Peace be with you!
Daniel Osullivan
Matt is freaking monster shit🤪☺️😁😌😂🤗🎈❤️🚬
Alan Bath
Not many people would understand these lyrics 😎
Browns Fan
My favorite band for a reason!!
Ryan Hall
I was there the night this was recorded and filmed. A sublime musical experience!
Andy mine
This Man & This band Are Absolutly Amazing~!! #LoveGovtMule #GovtMuleRules
Randy Tritt
This is awesome!! I could listen to this nonstop forever!!! Keep rocking my Freebird brother!!🦅🎸🦅
The True Vine
Y'all give me chicken skin everytime. Awesome intro, awesome song. Love these lyrics. What a great way to start the day. 🤘✌
Daniel Osullivan
Met warren many times. As real off stage as on. Real nice person😁☘️🚬💐🌅
Rancine Hathcock
How great tho art! Incredible. Standing ovation sir!