Chuck Berry’s words are at the very heart of Roots Rock & Roll 5-piece, THE 40 ACRE MULE! The self-described “Rhythm & Blues Outfit” are a powerhouse of vintage revival with a reputation for seamlessly blurring the lines between country, soul and rock audiences with songwriting that borders between blues drenched heartbreak and an old school riot in the streets!
Influenced by the pillars of Rhythm & Blues like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley and Ray Charles and inspired by recent artists such as J.D. McPherson, Nathaniel Rateliff and Gary Clark Jr., THE 40 ACRE MULE – J. Isaiah Evans: Guitar & Vocals, Robert Anderson: Drums, Tim Cooper: Bass, Chris Evetts: Baritone Sax & Percussion, and John Pedigo: Guitar & Vocals - quickly built their own unique sound by blending vintage Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues, Soul and just a touch of Country. It was a sound that soon caught on with The James Hunter Six, The Reverend Horton Heat, Eleven Hundred Springs, Ken Bethea of Old 97s, Alejandro Escovedo, Rosie Flores and more.
Since forming in Dallas, Texas in 2015, THE 40 ACRE MULE has built a loyal following the old-fashioned way, they earned it! Playing countless bars and packed clubs, they watched crowds grow mainly by word of mouth. As the crowds caught on, so did the likes of legendary promoter Scott Beggs and Jim Heath (The Reverend Horton Heat) who gave THE 40 ACRE MULE their first break with an opening slot at a SOLD-OUT show at Dallas’ legendary Bomb Factory. From there, opportunities to open for more superstars of roots music came along helping THE 40 ACRE MULE spread their brand of Rhythm & Blues music.
Playing to such diverse crowds has made their fanbase explode. "We’ve gone from 10 or 15 friends in a dive bar on a Tuesday to playing full-on festivals without even having an album out yet. That says something. I think we’re making music that people from all walks of life…country fans, soul fans, rockabilly fans…find comfortable and familiar. It’s because all those genres can trace their roots to Rhythm & Blues, the very backbone of Rock & Roll ", says J. Isaiah Evans
After years of putting in the work, THE 40 ACRE MULE followed in the footsteps of good friends and emerging Americana stars, The Vandoliers and Joshua Ray Walker, and signed with State Fair Records. After that, the good times kept rollin’ with the announcement that THE ACRE MULE would be part of HomeGrown Festival 2019 with Tripping Daisy, Toadies, The Suffers Black Pumas and more! Now, fresh off of their nomination for Best Rhythm & Blues Act by Central Track, THE 40 ACRE MULE is set to make more noise with the release of their upcoming full-length debut, GOODNIGHT & GOOD LUCK with tour and festival stops coming your way!
Josephine
The 40 Acre Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
OH JOSEPHINE, PLEASE DON'T GO AWAY
IF YOU COME BACK BABY, GONNA TREAT YOU RIGHT EVERY DAY
WELL, I MET JOSEPHINE AT A HONKY TONK BAR
AND I TOOK HER FOR A RIDE IN MY CADILLAC CAR
I GAVE HER THAT ROUTINE ABOUT RUNNIN' OUTTA GAS
THEN JOSEPHINE SHE WROTE ME UP FOR MOVIN' TOO FAST
OH JOSEPHINE, PLEASE DON'T GO AWAY
IF YOU COME BACK BABY, I'LL TREAT YOU RIGHT EVERY DAY
WELL I ASKED JOSEPHINE FOR ONE MORE CHANCE
AND I PICKED HER UP, AND I TOOK HER OUT FOR DINNER AND A DANCE
EVERYTHING WAS FINE 'TIL ANOTHER GIRL CUT IN
THEN JOSEPHINE SHE DIPPED ME WHEN I GAVE THAT GIRL A SPIN
OH JOSEPHINE, PLEASE DON'T GO AWAY
IF YOU COME BACK BABY, GONNA TREAT YOU RIGHT EVERY DAY
OH JOSEPHINE, PLEASE DON'T GO AWAY
OH JOSEPHINE, PLEASE DON'T GO AWAY
IF YOU COME BACK BABY, GONNA TREAT YOU RIGHT EVERY DAY
OH, JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
OH, JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
OH, JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
OH, JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
OH, JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
OH, JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
The lyrics to The 40 Acre Mule's song "Josephine" tell the story of a person pleading for their lover, Josephine, not to leave. The repetition of the plea, "Oh Josephine, please don't go away," emphasizes the urgency and desperation in the singer's voice. The singer assures Josephine that if she stays, they will treat her right every day.
The song begins by describing how the singer met Josephine at a honky-tonk bar and took her for a ride in their Cadillac car. However, the singer's smooth-talking strategy of pretending to run out of gas backfired, as Josephine saw through it and reprimanded the singer for moving too fast. The second verse reveals that the singer asked Josephine for one more chance and took her out for dinner and a dance. However, their time together was spoiled when another girl cut in, causing Josephine to leave the singer when they spun the other girl around.
The repetition of the plea throughout the song shows the singer's desire to make things right and keep Josephine by their side. The song captures the emotions of regret, longing, and a deep yearning for someone not to give up on the relationship. The simple yet powerful lyrics, combined with the energetic and soulful delivery, convey the raw emotions of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
OH JOSEPHINE, PLEASE DON'T GO AWAY
I'm begging you, Josephine, to stay with me and not leave
IF YOU COME BACK BABY, GONNA TREAT YOU RIGHT EVERY DAY
If you return, my dear, I promise to treat you with love and care every single day
WELL, I MET JOSEPHINE AT A HONKY TONK BAR
I encountered Josephine at a lively bar known for its country music
AND I TOOK HER FOR A RIDE IN MY CADILLAC CAR
I invited her to join me for a drive in my luxurious Cadillac automobile
I GAVE HER THAT ROUTINE ABOUT RUNNIN' OUTTA GAS
I used the excuse of running out of gas as a ploy to engage her in conversation
THEN JOSEPHINE SHE WROTE ME UP FOR MOVIN' TOO FAST
Surprisingly, Josephine reprimanded me for trying to progress our relationship too quickly
WELL I ASKED JOSEPHINE FOR ONE MORE CHANCE
I pleaded with Josephine to give our connection another opportunity
AND I PICKED HER UP, AND I TOOK HER OUT FOR DINNER AND A DANCE
I arranged to meet her and treated her to a lovely evening of dinner and dancing
EVERYTHING WAS FINE 'TIL ANOTHER GIRL CUT IN
Everything was going well until another girl interrupted our dance
THEN JOSEPHINE SHE DIPPED ME WHEN I GAVE THAT GIRL A SPIN
At that moment, Josephine rejected me by distancing herself when I danced with the other girl
OH, JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
My affectionate plea to Josephine
JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
Repeating her name, emphasizing my desire for her
OH, JOSEPHINE JOSEPHINE
Continuing to express my longing for Josephine
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: J. Isaiah Evans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind