Vaughn Monroe (October 7, 1911 – May 21, 1973) was a very popular radio, TV… Read Full Bio ↴Vaughn Monroe (October 7, 1911 – May 21, 1973) was a very popular radio, TV, and recording artist in the 1940s & 1950s. His adopted theme song, "Racing With the Moon", was heard on his radio and TV shows and was a popular song itself. In 1950, his recording of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" (Stan Jones) was a #1 hit for weeks, and it remains the song's standard version today. It was probably his "signature" song.

Monroe sang with some of the "Big Bands" of the '40s era, but his music transcended that style to become a popular radio and television personality - like Perry Como, Dean Martin, etc.

Mule Train
Vaughn Monroe Lyrics

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Mule train (hyah, hyah)
Mule train
Clippety cloppin' over hill and plain (over hill and plain)
Seems as how they never stop, clippety clop, clippety clop
Clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety-cloppin' along

Mule train (hyah, hyah)
Mule train

Clippety-cloppin' 'long the mountain chain (along the mountain chain)
Soon they're gonna reach the top, clippety-clop, clippety-clop
Clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety-cloppin' along

There's a plug of chaw tobacco for a miner in Corona
There's a guitar for a westerner way out in Arizona
There's a dress of calico for a a gal in Kokomo
Get along, mule, get along

Mule train (hyah, hyah)
Mule train
Clippety-cloppin' through the wind and rain (through the wind and rain)
They'll keep goin' 'til they drop, clippety-clop, clippety-clop
Clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety-cloppin' along

There's a letter full of sadness
And it's black around the border
There's a pair of boots for someone
Who had them made to order
There's a bible in the pack for the Reverend Mr. Black
Get along, mule, get along

Mule train (hyah, hyah)
Mule train
Clippety cloppin' over hill and plain (over hill and plain)
Seems as how they never stop, clippety-clop, clippety-clop

Clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety-cloppin' along

Get along, mule, get along
Mule train
Get along, mule, get along

Overall Meaning

The lyrics from Vaughn Monroe's "Mule Train" depicts a Western-style narrative of a mule train's journey through different terrains and conditions, carrying various items for different people. The opening lines set the tone for the song as the mules are urged to move forward with "Hyah, Hyah" to start their clippety clopping pace over hills and plains. The song mentions how they never stop, reinforcing the idea that the mules carry on tirelessly carrying provisions. The lyrics also use repetition of the clippety clopping sound to give the song an energetic beat.

As the song progresses, the scene shifts to traversing mountains that the mules will soon be climbing. Despite the challenging terrain, they persist with their clippety-clopping rhythm towards their destination. The verse also highlights the mules' functionality as they carry all sorts of things, such as a guitar for a westerner or a dress of calico for a gal in Kokomo. This portion of the song furthers the idea of how essential these animals were to the western life.

The final verse mentions a letter of sadness and boots that someone had made to order. This somber tone serves as a contrast to the previous high energy of the music. It shows the mules' significance, both in facilitating people's lives but also in memorials for the dead. The repetition of "get along, Mule, get along" culminates the song, closing out the idea that the mules will persevere on their journey.

Line by Line Meaning

Mule train (hyah, hyah)
Calling out to the mules to start moving

Mule train
A group of mules transporting goods

Clippety cloppin' over hill and plain (over hill and plain)
The sound of the mules' hooves as they travel over various terrain

Seems as how they never stop, clippety clop, clippety clop
The mules keep moving on and on without any sign of stopping

Clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety-cloppin' along
Repeating the sound of the mules' hooves as they travel

Clippety-cloppin' 'long the mountain chain (along the mountain chain)
The mules are traveling over a mountain range

Soon they're gonna reach the top, clippety-clop, clippety-clop
The mules are nearing the peak of the mountain and the sounds of their hooves increase as they climb

There's a plug of chaw tobacco for a miner in Corona
One of the items being transported by the mules is a piece of tobacco for a miner in Corona

There's a guitar for a westerner way out in Arizona
Another item being transported is a guitar for a westerner in Arizona

There's a dress of calico for a a gal in Kokomo
The mules are carrying a dress made of calico for a woman in Kokomo

Get along, mule, get along
Encouraging the mules to keep moving

Clippety-cloppin' through the wind and rain (through the wind and rain)
Despite the weather conditions, the mules continue to travel

They'll keep goin' 'til they drop, clippety-clop, clippety-clop
The mules are so hardworking that they will keep traveling until they themselves can no longer continue

There's a letter full of sadness
One of the items being carried by the mules is a letter that contains grief or sorrow

And it's black around the border
The letter has a black border which typically indicates a death or the announcement of one

There's a pair of boots for someone
Another item being transported is a pair of boots for someone

Who had them made to order
These boots were specifically made for the person who will be receiving them

There's a bible in the pack for the Reverend Mr. Black
The mules are carrying a bible in their cargo for the Reverend Mr. Black

Get along, mule, get along
Encouraging the mules to keep moving

Get along, mule, get along
Repeated encouragement for the mules to continue on their journey

Mule train (hyah, hyah)
A final call to the mules to keep moving

Mule train
The song's title and a reminder of the group of mules traveling together

Get along, mule, get along
A final piece of encouragement for the mules to keep going on their journey

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Fred Glickman, Hy Heath, Johnny Lange

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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