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,
Heavy Load
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smell of smoke rising in the air
Ain't no need to worry, 'bout things gone wrong
Always something going wrong, somewhere
Woman left me high and dry
Like the dust that's on my face
That's okay I'm moving on
I'm gon' leave when the sun goes down
Say goodbye to this lonesome town
One more thing I can leave behind
Don't look for me, you ain't gonna find me
Too many bridges, too many roads
Too much sky and too much ground
Life can be such a heavy load
There just ain't no relief to be found
Guess somewhere I lost my way
Got caught up in earthly things
Guess I forgot what brought me here
Riding on an angels' wings
Too much trouble, on my brain
Too many songs about the same old thing
Know you just can't sing your blues away
There's dues you know you're gonna have to pay
Too many bridges, too many roads
Too much sky and too much ground
Life can be such a heavy load
There just ain't no relief to be found
Keep on running and I don't know why
I'll be running 'til the day I die
Somewhere farther, down that line
Maybe I'll see you come judgment time
Walk a mile in my shoes
Please don't judge me 'til you do
I'll do my best not to judge you
Just let me play these heavy load blues
Woke up singing a dead man's song
Smell of smoke rising in the air
Don't know tomorrow where I'll be
When I'm gone you can bury me
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
The opening lines of Gov't Mule's "Heavy Load" immediately set a melancholic tone, with the singer waking up singing "a dead man's song." The smell of smoke implies destruction, and the subsequent line "ain't no need to worry, 'bout things gone wrong" suggests resignation in the face of difficult circumstances. The singer has clearly been through a lot, and is ready to move on from the troubles that have plagued him. He's lost a woman and has too much trouble on his brain, leading to a sense of being lost in life. He's been caught up in earthly things and has lost sight of what brought him here.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up singing a dead man's song
I feel like a part of me has died, and I am haunted by the memories of a more innocent and free past.
Smell of smoke rising in the air
My current situation is tangled with danger and combustible elements. It feels like there is no escaping the chaos.
Ain't no need to worry, 'bout things gone wrong
It's pointless to worry about things beyond my control, as there is always something going wrong somewhere.
Always something going wrong, somewhere
Life is full of chaos and misfortunes, and it seems like it's impossible to avoid them completely.
Woman left me high and dry
My love has abandoned me when I needed her the most, leaving me stranded and alone.
Like the dust that's on my face
I am covered in the remnants of a past life, and I can't shake off the feeling of loss and heartache.
That's okay I'm moving on
I've made peace with my loss and I'm determined to move forward, no matter how difficult it may be.
Moving on ain't no disgrace
It's not shameful to try and move forward after a setback or loss. It's the only way to keep going.
I'm gon' leave when the sun goes down
I've had enough of this place, and I'm leaving as soon as the cover of night falls.
Say goodbye to this lonesome town
I am bidding farewell to the emptiness and isolation of this place, hoping to find a better tomorrow elsewhere.
One more thing I can leave behind
I am getting rid of this heavy burden of my past, and leaving everything behind except my pain and experience.
Don't look for me, you ain't gonna find me
I am trying to escape my old life and the people in it. I won't be discovered or returned to my past.
Too many bridges, too many roads
There are too many avenues to explore and too many decisions to make, it's overwhelming and confusing.
Too much sky and too much ground
It feels like everything is too grand and vast, and it's impossible to find a place in this world or a hope of relief.
Life can be such a heavy load
The weight of life and its challenges can be unbearable and debilitating, making it hard to find the joy and hope in this existence.
There just ain't no relief to be found
No matter how hard I search, it feels like there is no way to loosen the grip of life's constant struggles and difficulties.
Guess somewhere I lost my way
I've changed and lost my path, getting sidetracked by the pleasures and comforts of this world.
Got caught up in earthly things
I've become preoccupied with materialism and superficial pleasures, losing sight of the true meaning and purpose of life.
Guess I forgot what brought me here
I've lost sight of the reasons and motivations that led me to this point in my life, and lost my sense of direction.
Riding on an angels' wings
I hope to return to the grace of my faith, and be lifted up by the protective and guiding force of divine beings.
Too much trouble, on my brain
I'm feeling overwhelmed with worries and anxiety, thinking too much and struggling to find any peace or solace.
Too many songs about the same old thing
I'm tired of hearing about the same old problems and pains, as if there is no escape or hope for a better life.
Know you just can't sing your blues away
No matter how much we try to escape or forget about our problems, they are always there, and we will always carry their weight.
There's dues you know you're gonna have to pay
Nothing in life comes for free, and we will all have to suffer and work hard to earn anything worth cherishing or keeping.
Keep on running and I don't know why
I'm running away and trying to escape my problems, but I'm not sure why or where I'm going.
I'll be running 'til the day I die
I will never stop searching and running, no matter how long I live, as long as I'm alive, I will strive to find a better life.
Somewhere farther, down that line
I know that somewhere down the line, there is a hope for a better future and the chance for a more fulfilling life.
Maybe I'll see you come judgment time
I hope to meet you again, in a better world or a life beyond this one, where we can be free of our pain and suffering.
Walk a mile in my shoes
Before you judge or criticize me, try to understand my point of view and the experiences that led me to where I am today.
Please don't judge me 'til you do
It's unfair to judge or condemn someone without trying to understand their life's experiences and challenges.
I'll do my best not to judge you
I promise to listen and try to understand your point of view, without judging or condemning you for your life's experiences and choices.
Just let me play these heavy load blues
I hope to find solace and relief in sharing my pain and struggles, and expressing myself through my music and art.
When I'm gone you can bury me
When my journey ends, I hope to be remembered and laid to rest with dignity, surrounded by the people who loved me.
Down by the riverside
I hope my final resting place will be a peaceful and serene spot by the river, surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of nature.
Down by the riverside
I hope my final resting place will be a peaceful and serene spot by the river, surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of nature.
Down by the riverside
I hope my final resting place will be a peaceful and serene spot by the river, surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of nature.
Down by the riverside
I hope my final resting place will be a peaceful and serene spot by the river, surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of nature.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Warren Haynes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Brewer
Haynes is the hardest workin' musician out there. Dustin' off the younger ones, with ease. I feel blessed to have seen him with The Dead, The Allman Bros and with Gov't Mule. The man can DELIVER. Long may he reign !
N2
Amen. Nothing like going to church & taking it to church, Brother. Amen. ⚔️🇺🇸🐺
BrandyDawn What's that flower u hav on
@free Hawk yea I've shot the shit with Warren a few times after shows & worked on houses with him for habitat humanity Xmas pre jam stuff. Solid Warren; the backbone.
free Hawk
Warren is also humble . Not rare for him to hang out at a show and meet anyone and everyone.
Bret Kindell
now thats a true story ..rock on brother
Thomas Goshaw
I saw a show at Deer Creek in Indiana with Phil And Friends headlining with the Alman Brothers and Gov't Mule on the bill. Of course Warren played guitar for all three. He's a gifted workhorse.
Travis Smith
The Mule delivering just like they always do - never disappointing!
Shawn Adam Williams
Yes! That's what I'm talking about! Gov't Mule is BACK!
IIESPD00DII
Never left
Burnt Gerbil
Where did they go? They’ve been here the whole time. 🤷♂️