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,
In My Life
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can hold you, but I won't watch you drown
In my life, things have a way of growing downward
And I don't know if I can watch myself be a coward
Again
I don't know you like I thought I did
In my life, I've always been the one that had to ruin things
So I don't know, is some dark angel pulling on my heart strings
Again
In my life, things have a kind of ragged beauty
And I don't seem to know right from wrong
Or so they say, unless it's happening to me
People change, I don't know what for
Strangers walking in and out my door
Something's got to change, the past just hangs here to remind me
That one of these mornings, I'll reach for you
And find me
I have told you, I won't watch you drown
I can't save you, but I will be around
The lyrics of Gov't Mule's song "In My Life / If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day" depict the singer's struggles with inner demons and past mistakes. The first two lines of the song, "I can't save you, but I can talk you down / I can hold you, but I won't watch you drown," suggest that the singer cannot save someone from their own problems, but will be there to support them through difficult times. The next few lines explore the singer's own personal struggles with cowardice and an inability to make the right decisions. The singer also admits that they do not know the person they're talking to as well as they thought, but will reveal parts of themselves that they previously kept hidden.
The chorus of the song reflects on the singer's belief that their life seems to have a tendency to take a downward turn, and they feel powerless to stop it. The line "Or so they say, unless it's happening to me" represents the singer's difficulty in understanding and empathizing with others' struggles, but they feel everything intensely when it pertains to their own life. The final verse discusses the difficult process of change and the past mistakes that still haunt the singer. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer reassuring the person they're addressing that they will be present for them, even if they cannot save them.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't save you, but I can talk you down
I may not be able to rescue you from your problems, but I can offer you advice and support to help you cope.
I can hold you, but I won't watch you drown
I can provide comfort and care, but I won't allow you to harm yourself in my presence.
In my life, things have a way of growing downward
My experiences have often taken a negative turn, leading me down a path of disappointment and despair.
And I don't know if I can watch myself be a coward
I fear that my fear and hesitation will keep me from being brave and facing my challenges head on.
I don't know you like I thought I did
I realize that I may have had a misperception of who you were or what you wanted.
But I will show you things that I kept hid
Despite my uncertainty, I am willing to be authentic with you and reveal parts of myself that I may have kept hidden in the past.
In my life, I've always been the one that had to ruin things
I have a tendency to bring destruction upon myself and others, even when it's unintentional.
So I don't know, is some dark angel pulling on my heart strings
I wonder if there is something evil or ominous influencing my thoughts and actions in a negative way.
In my life, things have a kind of ragged beauty
Despite the chaos and messiness of my life, there are moments of beauty and wonder that I still appreciate.
And I don't seem to know right from wrong
I am unsure of what decisions to make or which path to follow, causing me confusion and doubt.
Or so they say, unless it's happening to me
Others may have advice and suggestions, but ultimately I must learn from my own experiences and mistakes.
People change, I don't know what for
I see others changing and growing, but I am uncertain of the reasons or motivations behind their transformations.
Strangers walking in and out my door
People come and go in my life, some leaving an impression while others pass by unnoticed.
Something's got to change, the past just hangs here to remind me
I feel stuck in my current situation and am haunted by past mistakes and regrets that prevent me from moving forward.
That one of these mornings, I'll reach for you and find me
In a moment of vulnerability or desperation, I may turn to you for help and guidance, only to discover my own inner strength and resilience.
I have told you, I won't watch you drown
I care about you and will do what I can to ensure your safety and wellbeing.
I can't save you, but I will be around
Even if I am unable to fix your problems, I will still be present and supportive in whatever way I can.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: WARREN HAYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind