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,
Soulshine
Gov't Mule Lyrics
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That got you through the cloudy days
When the stars ain't shinin' bright
You feel like you've lost your way
When the candlelight of home
Burns so very far away
Well, you got to let your soul shine
Just like my daddy used to say
He used to say soulshine
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Hey, now people don't mind
We all feel this way sometimes
You gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day
I grew up thinkin' I had it made
Gonna make it on my own
Life can take the strongest man
Make him feel so alone
Now sometimes I feel a cold wind
Blowin' through my achin' bones
I think back to what my daddy said
He said "boy, in this darkness before the dawn"
Let your soul shine
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Yeah, now people don't mind
We all get this way sometimes
You've got to let your soul shine, shine till the break of day
Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul
A woman too, God knows, she can feel like this
And when your world seems cold, you got to let your spirit take control
Let your soul shine
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Lord now people don't mind
We all fel this way sometimes
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day
Oh, it's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Yeah, now people don't mind
We all feel this way sometimes
You've got to let your soul shine, shine till the break of day
In the song "Soulshine," Gov't Mule sings about finding hope and comfort in difficult times. The lyrics suggest that during moments of darkness, it is crucial to let your soul shine, which will guide you towards the light. When you are lost, remember the words of the singer's father, who said that soulshine is better "than sunshine, moonshine, [and] damn sure better than rain." Rather than letting despair take control, you need to let your spirit take over and rise above the obstacles.
The song's powerful message has resonated with many people, and it has become one of Gov't Mule's most popular songs. The soulful vocals, uplifting lyrics, and driving rhythm make it a prime example of the band's signature sound, which blends elements of rock, blues, and funk. The song has also been covered by several artists, including the Allman Brothers Band, who helped write the original version.
Line by Line Meaning
When you can't find the light
That got you through the cloudy days
When you feel lost and alone, without hope or guidance
When the stars ain't shinin' bright
You feel like you've lost your way
When everything seems dark and bleak, and you feel lost and lost
When the candlelight of home
Burns so very far away
When the comfort and warmth of home feels far away and unattainable
Well, you got to let your soul shine
Just like my daddy used to say
You must embrace your inner strength and spirit in difficult times and turn to the wisdom of those before us for guidance
He used to say soulshine
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
One must find and embrace their inner light during difficult times as it is superior to any external source of happiness
Hey, now people don't mind
We all feel this way sometimes
It's important to remember that everyone experiences challenges and feelings of despair at some point in their life
You gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day
You must let your inner light guide you through the hardships and challenges of life, never losing sight of it until a new day dawns
Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul
One can feel an intense emotional void that can make them feel like their essence has been taken from them
A woman too, God knows, she can feel like this
And when your world seems cold, you got to let your spirit take control
Both men and women can experience the same type of feeling, and in those moments, they must let their inner spirit and strength be the guiding force
Lord now people don't mind
We all fel this way sometimes
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day
It's important to remind ourselves that we are not alone in our struggles, and we must always strive to let our inner light shine, no matter how difficult the circumstances
Oh, it's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Yeah, now people don't mind
We all feel this way sometimes
You've got to let your soul shine, shine till the break of day
When everything else fails to bring happiness, one must turn to their inner strength and let their soul shine, even during the darkest of nights, until the dawn of a new day brings hope and light.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Warren Haynes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind