Lyr Req: Keep the barn out of his vision

Subject: Lyr Req: Keep the barn out of his vision
From: bsigle
Date: 15 Apr 14 - 09:39 PM

I heard this song on Folkways (KUT Austin) many years ago and just recently hit upon the guitar part. It's a great "plowing with a mule" song but I can't find it anywhere. I remember most of the melody and some of the lyrics but not enough to make a complete song. The best I remember of the chorus is:
"So keep the barn out of his vision or he'll break into a run, chasing a mule all over these hills aint my idea of having fun,
havin fun, whoa old mule"
Anyone have any ideas about this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep the barn out of his vision
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 11:56 AM

Anything else you can recall would only help. I'm coming up empty on Mr Google.

Country? Bluegrass? Single? Group? Any phrases from the stanzas?

Subject: Lyr Add: DADDY KEEPS ON PLOWIN' (Mark Fair)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 10:52 AM

DADDY KEEPS ON PLOWIN'
Written by Mark Fair
As recorded by Front Porch String Band on "Front Porch String Band" (1992)

It's rainin' but daddy keeps on plowin'.
He's gotta get through with the new ground.
If that old mule could talk, he'd be complainin'.
He's gotta get through just two more rounds.

Keep the barn out of his vision or he'll break into a run.
Chasin' a mule all over these woods ain't my idea of havin' fun.
I'm havin' fun.
Whoa, whoa, mule!

It's comin' down hard now; there's no time to complain.
Nothin' worse than a stubborn mule, all this thunder, lightnin' and rain.
I gotta get through, son, so fetch me a towel.
I gotta do all my breakin' today 'cause tomorrow's gonna be too wet to plow.

Keep a tight rein on that old mule or he'll break into a run.
Chasin' a mule all over these woods ain't my idea of havin' fun.
I'm havin' fun.
Whoa, whoa, mule!

- - -

Mark Johnson & Clawgrass also recorded this on "Bridging the Gap" (1997). This can be heard on Spotify.

YouTube has 3 recordings:
Mark Fair - good sound quality.
Front Porch String Band - fair sound quality.
Grandview Junction Bluegrass/Gospel Band - poor sound quality.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep the barn out of his vision
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 10:56 AM

Great work, Jim.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep the barn out of his vision
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 01:34 PM

The irony just struck me:

Keep the barn out of his vision or he'll break into a run.
Chasin' a mule all over these woods ain't my idea of havin' fun.

Mule sees barn--mule runs into woods.

Now, I'm no authority on mule psychology, but that seems kinda dumb.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep the barn out of his vision
From: bsigle
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 10:17 PM

This is great! Thanks. The best part is the link to the Youtube video. He is playing it in drop D. I worked it out making a drop D using a capo at the second fret with the E open. It makes the G and C cord fingering standard.
Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep the barn out of his vision
From: GUEST,Mark Fair
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 09:33 PM

My song "daddy keeps on plowin'" is tuned with the bass e string dropped to a D.