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,
Frozen Fear
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know loneliness when I see it
Normally I'm not the hero type
But there was something between us
I could feel it
I could feel it
So I thought I'd throw you a line
Now here were are, somewhere between "thankful" and "where do we go now?"
I know you're just running scared
And after all you've been through
You've got to beware
But don't be afraid to live your life my dear
Unwillingness
Is just frozen fear
Find someplace soft and warm
I know we all need a little shelter from the storm
Times like these
You've got to leave it all behind
And know a new sun is
Gonna rise and shine
I know you're just running scared
And after all you've been through
You've got to beware
But don't be afraid to live your life my dear
Unwillingness
Is just frozen fear
I know you think it can't be done
But every moment a new life is begun
People rise above everyday
Things that you and I will never have to face
Hold onto me if you need to
I know the river's deep and wide
Trust in me I'll see you through
And I'll be there on the other side
I know you're just running scared
After all you've been through
You've got to be aware
Don't be afraid to live your life my dear
Unwillingness
Is just frozen fear
Just frozen fear
The lyrics to Gov't Mule's song Frozen Fear describe an encounter between the singer and someone who appears to be going through a difficult time. The singer sees this person, who they perceive to be lonely, and feels a connection with them. The singer admits that they are not usually the heroic type, but they feel compelled to reach out to this person. The lyrics express the idea that fear is holding this person back from living their life to the fullest. The singer encourages the person to leave their troubles behind and embrace the future, promising to be there to help them through the journey ahead.
The theme of the song is one of hope and resilience in the face of fear and uncertainty. The lyrics suggest that fear is a natural part of life, but it can become "frozen" and paralyzing if we allow it to control our actions. The singer's message is one of encouragement, urging the person to take risks, to have faith in the power of new beginnings, and to trust in the support of others.
Overall, the lyrics to Frozen Fear are an invitation to embrace life's challenges and to confront our fears head-on. The song speaks to the universal human experience of vulnerability and the need for connection and support. It reminds us that we are stronger than we think, and that we can overcome even the most daunting obstacles with courage and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw you from the corner of my eye
I noticed you, even though you might have thought I didn't
I know loneliness when I see it
I can tell when someone is feeling lonely, because I've experienced it myself
Normally I'm not the hero type
Usually, I don't see myself as someone who can save the day
But there was something between us
However, I felt a strong connection with you
I could feel it
It was a physical and emotional sensation
So I thought I'd throw you a line
I wanted to offer you help and support
I've needed one myself so many times
Because I've gone through my own struggles and needed help in the past
Now here were are, somewhere between 'thankful' and 'where do we go now?'
We're in a state of uncertainty, unsure of what's next but grateful for the present
I know you're just running scared
I understand that you're afraid and unsure of yourself
And after all you've been through
Considering everything you've experienced
You've got to beware
You need to be careful and cautious
But don't be afraid to live your life my dear
Despite the fear, you should still embrace life and all its experiences
Unwillingness
Refusing to take action
Is just frozen fear
In reality, it's just the fear that's holding us back
Find someplace soft and warm
Seek out a comfortable and safe environment
I know we all need a little shelter from the storm
During difficult times, we all need a place to go for comfort and protection
Times like these
In situations like the one we're in now
You've got to leave it all behind
We need to let go of our past experiences and emotions
And know a new sun is gonna rise and shine
Believe that better days are ahead
I know you think it can't be done
I understand that you might not believe change is possible
But every moment a new life is begun
However, things can always change and improve at any given moment
People rise above everyday
People are capable of overcoming difficult situations daily
Things that you and I will never have to face
Situations that we may never fully understand or experience ourselves
Hold onto me if you need to
If you need support, rely on me
I know the river's deep and wide
I understand that the situation is difficult and challenging
Trust in me I'll see you through
Have faith in me, and I'll help you navigate through the tough times
And I'll be there on the other side
Together, we can overcome this and find ourselves in a better place
Don't be afraid to live your life my dear
Despite the fear and uncertainty, you should still embrace your life
Unwillingness
The inability or refusal to take action
Is just frozen fear
It's simply the fear that's holding us back, locked in place
Just frozen fear
At the end of the day, it's just the fear that's causing us to feel stuck and unwilling to move forward
Contributed by Elijah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.