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,
Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pts. 1
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes,
Like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the crossfire
Of childhood and stardom,
Come on you target for faraway laughter,
Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon,
You cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night,
And exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome
With random precision,
Rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
Come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!
The lyrics of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Gov't Mule present a tribute to the late Pink Floyd founding member, Syd Barrett, who had a significant influence on the band's early psychedelic sound. The song is divided into two parts, which sandwich the entire "Wish You Were Here" album, and it uses his story as a metaphor for the costs of stardom.
The first stanza of the lyrics refers to Barrett's early years, where he was a bright and promising artist, full of potential and talent. However, as the song progresses, it implies that he became lost in the struggles between the realities of the music industry and his delusions. The lyrics in the second stanza paint a darker portrayal of Barrett, where his eyes became black holes, indicating the destructive nature of his traits. The line "caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom" describes the increasing pressures that stardom placed upon him, leaving him with a distorted sense of self.
The lyrics further proceed to describe how Barrett, in his quest for knowledge and enlightenment, was exposed to harsh scrutiny, leading him to spiral out of control. In a sadder tone, the line "you wore out your welcome with random precision" speaks to Barrett's decline and eventual departure from Pink Floyd. The song concludes with an invitation to other artists, be it a painter, a seer of visions, or a prisoner, to carry on, to be inspired by his music, and to shine in their own light.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when you were young,
Recall the times of your youth,
You shone like the sun.
You had radiance that brightened up lives,
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Continue to sparkle and shine like the absolute gem you are,
Now there's a look in your eyes,
You have a particular expressive stare,
Like black holes in the sky.
Your eyes are so deep - as if they are black holes in the sky,
You were caught on the crossfire
You were stuck in the middle of two opposing forces,
Of childhood and stardom,
Between childhood and fame,
Blown on the steel breeze.
Swirling around amidst the chaos like the wind,
Come on you target for faraway laughter,
You, the subject of distant laughs,
Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
Don't be afraid to stand out, and continue to shine bright like a legend even in adversity,
You reached for the secret too soon,
You tried to get answers ahead of time,
You cried for the moon.
You set unrealistic expectations for yourself,
Threatened by shadows at night,
You feel like you are being watched and judged,
And exposed in the light.
You feel vulnerable and open in the light of the truth,
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Nevertheless, let your light continue to shine through,
Well you wore out your welcome
You had overstayed your greeting,
With random precision,
You were unpredictable but effective,
Rode on the steel breeze.
You were aloft on the wings of destiny,
Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
Don't stop dreaming about tomorrow, you visionary soul,
Come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!
Keep creating, singing, and stay hopeful even in confinement, and let your light radiate!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: David Jon Gilmour, Rick Wright, Roger Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind