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,
Mule
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you just can't help your self
want to feel special
Man want to make you feel like everybody else
Take away your freedom
Strip away your pride
Say you know you weren't born
With the blue blood son
Where's my mule?
Where's my forty acres
Where's my dream
Mr Emancipator
Live this way
Might as well meet my maker
Where's my mule?
Where's my mule?
I say trust me
But you say it's too much bother
Yeah, the way the man try to beat you down
Make you want to kill your brother
So go on and bust me
For what's in my mason jar
Yeah, I owes my soul
To the company store
How I'm doing so far?
Where's my mule?
Where's my forty acres
Where's my dream
Mr Emancipator
Live this way
Might as well meet my maker
Where's my mule?
Where's my mule?
Where's my mule?
Where's my forty acres
Where's my dream
Mr Emancipator
Live this way
Might as well meet my maker
Where's my, my, my, my, my, my mule?
The lyrics of Gov't Mule's song "Mule" express the frustration and disappointment of a person who has been denied their freedom and their right to pursue their dreams. The singer addresses the "Man" who "wants to make you feel like everybody else" and who has "taken away your freedom" and "stripped away your pride." The singer feels like they are just another face in the crowd, lacking the status and privilege that comes with being born into a wealthy or powerful family.
The question of "where's my mule?" is a metaphor for the singer's desire to have the tools and resources they need to make something of themselves. In the days of slavery, a "mule and forty acres" was the promise made by the government to newly freed slaves as a way to give them a chance to prosper on their own. The singer's reference to "Mr. Emancipator" suggests that they feel let down by those who promised them freedom but have failed to deliver on that promise.
The song also touches on themes of brotherhood and loyalty, as the singer acknowledges that the "Man" has pitted people against each other and made them resentful and bitter. The singer's reference to owing their soul to the company store suggests a sense of desperation and hopelessness, as though they are trapped in a cycle of debt and exploitation and can see no way out.
Line by Line Meaning
Say you try
You attempt to improve yourself
But you just can't help your self
You struggle with your efforts despite your desire for change
Want to feel special
You yearn for a sense of uniqueness
Man want to make you feel like everybody else
The societal norms coerce you to adopt the conventional way of life
Take away your freedom
Your individuality is suppressed
Strip away your pride
You are made to submit to a force that belittles you
Say you know you weren't born
You understand that you were not endowed with power or privilege
With the blue blood son
You were not born into a royal or aristocratic family
So take your place in line
You must accept your position in society as assigned by others
Where's my mule?
Where is the vehicle to help me escape my current situation?
Where's my forty acres
Where is my own land to cultivate and make a life for myself?
Where's my dream
Where is my aspiration for a better life?
Mr Emancipator
Addressing Abraham Lincoln, who freed the slaves
Live this way
Being forced to live a subservient life
Might as well meet my maker
Being oppressed in this manner is as good as being dead
I say trust me
I will do what I promised
But you say it's too much bother
Despite my assurance, you deem it not worth the effort
Yeah, the way the man try to beat you down
The systemic oppression wears you down
Make you want to kill your brother
The burden might provoke illogical and extreme reactions
So go on and bust me
Arrest me for what I am doing
For what's in my mason jar
For the illegal alcohol that I have
Yeah, I owe my soul
I am trapped and indebted
To the company store
To the exploitative corporation that controls my life
How I'm doing so far?
How am I faring in the face of all these injustices and struggles?
Where's my, my, my, my, my, my mule?
Where is my deliverance that I so desperately need?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ALLEN WOODY, MATTHEW ABTS, WARREN HAYNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind