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,
Railroad Boy
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And not a word to her mother said
Her mother, she went upstairs too, said daughter, oh daughter, what’s troubling you?
Oh mother, I cannot tell that railroad boy that I love so well
He courted me, my life away, and now at home will no longer stay
There’s a place in London town where the railroad boy goes and sits down
Her father, he came home from work, said where’s my daughter, what’s troubling her
He went upstairs to give her hope, found her hanging by a rope
He took his knife, cut her down, and on her bosom these words were found
Oh dig my grave both wide and deep, place a marble stone at my head and feet
And on my breast place a white snow dove, won’t you tell the world that I died for love
To tell the world I died of love
Tell the world that I died for love
Wont you tell the world that I died for love
The lyrics of the song "Railroad Boy" by Gov't Mule narrate a story of a girl who fell in love with a railroad boy. She could not express her love to her parents and eventually committed suicide as the boy left her to court another girl. The mother of the girl tried to console her, but the girl could not share her love story. The father found her hanging and let out a deep cry of sorrow. The girl had left a message on her bosom, asking for a wide and deep grave and a marble stone on her head and feet. She also requested a white snow dove on her breast, asking the world to know that she died for love.
The lyrics of "Railroad Boy" depict societal taboos that restrict people from expressing their love openly. The girl in the song could not express her love to the railroad boy and resorted to suicide. The narrative has a melancholic and sad tone, depicting the tragedy of love that blooms in secret because of societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
She went upstairs to make her bed
The girl went upstairs to do her daily chores.
And not a word to her mother said
The girl refrained from speaking to her mother.
Her mother, she went upstairs too, said daughter, oh daughter, what’s troubling you?
The mother, concerned about the girl's silence, approached her asking what bothered her.
Oh mother, I cannot tell that railroad boy that I love so well
The girl admits to her mother that she cannot confess her love to the railroad boy.
He courted me, my life away, and now at home will no longer stay
The girl reveals that the railroad boy won her over but now avoids her.
There’s a place in London town where the railroad boy goes and sits down
The girl reveals the place where the railroad boy goes to relax in London.
Takes a strange girl on his knee, says things to her he won’t say to me
The girl becomes sad when she sees the railroad boy talking to another girl, who seems to receive more attention from him.
Her father, he came home from work, said where’s my daughter, what’s troubling her
The father arrived and inquired about his daughter, attempting to find out what was upsetting her.
He went upstairs to give her hope, found her hanging by a rope
The father discovered his daughter, who had committed suicide.
He took his knife, cut her down, and on her bosom these words were found
The father removed the girl's body and found the message she had left behind.
Oh dig my grave both wide and deep, place a marble stone at my head and feet
The girl's message instructed her family on how to bury her.
And on my breast place a white snow dove, won’t you tell the world that I died for love
The girl requested her family to place a white snow dove on her chest and to spread the news of her death due to love.
To tell the world I died of love
The girl wanted the world to know that she died of broken heart caused by love.
Tell the world that I died for love
The girl's final message urged her family to inform the world that she had passed away because of love.
Contributed by Samantha J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.