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,
Catfish Blues
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swimmin' in the deep blue sea
I'd have all you women
Fishin' after me
Fishin' after me
Fishin' after me
Well, I'm broke and I'm hungry
Well, if I clean up, baby, can I
Stay home with you
Stay home with you
Stay home with you
If I can't, can't come in
Let me sit down front of your door
I'll leave so early, your
Mom won't know
Won't never know
Won't never know
Oh, I know, know my baby
Well, she's going to jump and shout
When my train pulls in and I
I come walkin' out
Come walkin' out
Come walkin' out
Yes, I'm goin', babe I'm goin'
And your crying won't make me stay
Oh, the more that you cry, baby
More I'll go away
More I'll go away
More I'll go away
Well now I know, I know you don't want me
Why in the world won't you tell me so?
Then I won't be caught, baby, 'round
Your house no more
Your house no more
Your house no more
The song "Catfish Blues" by Gov't Mule is a classic blues song with a groovy tune and simple lyrics. The opening line of the song goes, "Well, I wish I was a catfish, swimmin' in the deep blue sea." The singer desires to be a catfish because he believes all women will fish after him. The song speaks about being broke, hungry, ragged, and dirty, which are common themes in blues music. The singer pleads with his lover to allow him to stay with her if he cleans himself up. Yet, if he can't stay with her, he requests permission to sit outside her door instead of getting into more trouble.
The singer mentions leaving his crying lover, even though he knows it will hurt her. Essentially, he is saying that he needs to leave and not become more entangled with her. The song is about a relationship that is coming to an end. The lyrics are straightforward, and the melody is pleasing to the ears. The song has been covered by different artists, including Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I wish I was a catfish
The singer desires to be a catfish swimming in the sea because then all women would be interested in him.
Swimmin' in the deep blue sea
The singer wants to swim in the vastness of the deep blue sea.
I'd have all you women
The singer believes that if he were a catfish, he would have a lot of women interested in him.
Fishin' after me
All the women will be trying to catch him.
Well, I'm broke and I'm hungry
The singer doesn't have any money and is very hungry.
Ragged and I'm dirty too
The singer is in a bad state: his clothes are torn and he is not cleaned up.
Well, if I clean up, baby, can I
The singer is asking if he can stay with his partner if he cleans up.
Stay home with you
The singer wants to stay at his partner's house.
If I can't, can't come in
The singer is asking if he cannot stay at his partner's house.
Let me sit down front of your door
The singer will sit outside his partner's door if he cannot come in.
I'll leave so early, your
The singer will leave so early that his partner's mother won't even notice.
Mom won't know
The singer will leave so early that his partner's mother won't even notice.
Oh, I know, know my baby
The singer knows that his partner will jump and shout when he arrives.
Well, she's going to jump and shout
The singer's partner will be very happy when he arrives.
When my train pulls in and I
The singer will arrive on a train.
I come walkin' out
The singer will walk out of the train.
Yes, I'm goin', babe I'm goin'
The singer is leaving his partner.
And your crying won't make me stay
Even if his partner cries, the singer will still leave.
Oh, the more that you cry, baby
The more she cries the more he will want to leave.
More I'll go away
The more she cries the more he will want to leave.
Well now I know, I know you don't want me
The singer knows that his partner doesn't want him.
Why in the world won't you tell me so?
The singer wants his partner to be honest with him.
Then I won't be caught, baby, 'round
If his partner tells him the truth, he won't keep coming to her house.
Your house no more
He won't come to her house anymore.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TAJ MAHAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind