I was taught this song by a woman who said her brother wrote it. I was about 11 yrs old and still remember it in my 40s.

Whoa there mule a boy, Whoa there mule a holler,
tie a knot in the old mule's tail so he won't slide through the collar.

the night before i bought that mule i couldn't wait for day,
every time i closed my eyes i could hear that mule a bray.
whoa there mule a boy whoa there mule a holler
tie a knot in the old mule's tail so he won't slide through the collar.

three buzzards came a-sailing by and the old mule tried to duck 'em
but before i could take the the bridle off the old mule kicked the bucket,
whoa there mule a boy whoa there mule a holler
tie a knot in the old mule's tail so he won't slide through the collar.

they used his meat for axle grease, tanned his hide for leather
but he was too young and tender to stay out in the weather,
whoa there mule a boy whoa there mule a holler
tie a knot in the old mule's tail so he won't slide through the collar.

Hope you like it, Derik