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,
Comfortably Numb
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at home?
Come on, now,
I hear you're feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain
Relax.
I'll need some information first.
Just the basic facts.
Can you show me where it hurts?
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship, smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain you would not understand
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.
O.K.
Just a little pinprick.
There'll be no more aaaaaaaaah!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working, good.
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on it's time to go.
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship, smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown,
The dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.
The lyrics to "Comfortably Numb" by Gov't Mule tell a story of a person who is feeling emotionally numb and disconnected from the world around them. The opening lines are a series of questions posed to the person, asking if they are there, if they can hear the singer, and if they are feeling any pain or emotion. The singer, who seems to be a doctor or caretaker of some sort, promises to help ease the person's pain and help them get back on their feet, but first they need some basic information about what is going on. The chorus repeats the idea that the person is receding into a numbness, with their voice only coming through in waves.
The second verse provides more context for the person's condition, with a reference to a childhood fever that made them feel disconnected from their body ("My hands felt just like two balloons"). The person is experiencing this feeling once again, but they cannot explain it to anyone else. The singer assures them that they will help them become "comfortably numb," which seems to mean that they will be able to disconnect from their emotions and the outside world. The final lines of the song acknowledge that the person's childhood dream is gone and they have become resigned to their numbness.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of alienation and disconnection from the world, with the person seeking relief through emotional numbness. The reference to a childhood experience and the idea of "recalling" a feeling of numbness suggest that this may be a coping mechanism for dealing with difficult emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello?
Are you there?
Is there anybody in there?
Are you conscious?
Just nod if you can hear me.
If you can hear me, don't try to speak.
Is there anyone at home? Come on, now,
Can I see if you are present and alert? Please.
I hear you're feeling down.
It seems like you're going through a rough patch.
Well, I can ease your pain. Get you on your feet again. Relax.
I can try to help you feel better. Just try to relax.
I'll need some information first. Just the basic facts. Can you show me where it hurts?
I need more information about your pain. Tell me where it's located.
There is no pain you are receding. A distant ship, smoke on the horizon. You are only coming through in waves.
You're starting to become numb to the pain.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
I can't hear what you're saying.
When I was a child, I had a fever. My hands felt just like two balloons. Now I've got that feeling once again. I can't explain, you would not understand. This is not how I am. I have become comfortably numb. O.K.
I feel numb and distant from everything. It's not easy to describe.
Just a little pinprick. There'll be no more aaaaaaaaah! But you may feel a little sick. Can you stand up? I do believe it's working, good. That'll keep you going through the show. Come on, it's time to go.
I'm going to give you a shot to help with your pain. It might make you feel nauseous, but it should work.
There is no pain, you are receding. A distant ship, smoke on the horizon. You are only coming through in waves. Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
You're starting to become numb to the pain.
When I was a child, I caught a fleeting glimpse out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look, but it was gone. I cannot put my finger on it now. The child is grown, the dream is gone. I have become comfortably numb.
As a child, I had an unexplainable experience that I still can't understand. Now that I'm grown, those kinds of experiences are gone, and I've become numb to everything.
Lyrics Ā© ACE Music, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: David Jon Gilmour, Roger Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack Bigley
Warren Haynes and Govt. Mule Are incredible.
Mark Hill
Huge respect for Warren, he ventures outside the claustrophic confines of Southern, into the awesome realm of soaring British . He has done plenty of Fab Four, Zeppelin, and Floyd. Would love to see him do some Straits! Glad he hasn't limited himself.
blueyed mule
When I had my stroke last October, as I sat in my wheelchair in inpatient rehab, I would listen this as my heart would break and I would sob. Eight, nine months later it still hits me.
Larry C
Warren will tackle any ANY piece of music...and he really adds unique interpretations....he is truly the guitarists' "everyman"
Rob Jones
I like how Warren did not try to replicate Gilmour's solo style. He channeled the essence of it but gave it his own style.
Shane Bush
Been a huge fan of Warren for over 30 years. He's willing to try to play about anything and put his touch on it. He's an incredible talent overall. And once he put Govt Mule together it's been fun watching him in everything as a musician and artist. And becoming a all time great himself and having a Legendary career that's Just continuing to grow.
Terminally Inquisitive
The Mule - the only band who are allowed to cover Pink Floyd or Black Sabbath IMO ! Great stuff. Resolution once this C virus has gone is to see Warren live š Spine tingling guitar solo and great vocals.
John Humphrey
You might want to listen to some Widespread Panic. Fairies Wear Boots, Sweet Leaf, Wish You Were Here, etc.
Sam Keepin' The Rock Alive!šøšø
Wow! I just witnessed true greatness!!. Warren Haynes, what a musician, and Gov't Mule, what a band!
Desert Rat
Excellent cover! Really impressive! Bravo Warren & Co.