I listened to versions of this song by Walter Smith, Cousin Emmy, and the New Lost City Ramblers. All three recordings are hard to hear, but I can tell the Cousin Emmy recording sure doesn't match anything we have in the DT. Here are the lyrics I found in the Old-Time String Band Songbook, which seems to be a pretty good compilation of the verses from Smith & NLCR. the Cousy Emmy version is completely different, and it will be a challenge to transcribe.
-Joe Offer-

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JOHNNY BOOKER

There was an old man* and he went to school,
And he made his living by driving a mule.

CHORUS
And what Johnny Booker wouldn't do- do-do,
And what Johnny Booker wouldn't do.

I drove him up to the foot of the hill,
And I hollered at the mule and the mule stood still,
(Chorus)

I put my shoulder ag'in' the wheel,
And back in the mud I stuck my heel.
(Chorus)

I put my shoulder against the cart,
And I hollered at the mule and the mule wouldn't start.
(Chorus)

I drove him up to the blacksmith shop,
I hollered at the mule and the mule didn't stop.
(Chorus)

I asked that fireman to mend my yoke,
He hopped to the bellows and blowed up the smoke.
(Chorus)

He fixed my yoke, he mend my ring,
He never charged me nary a thing.
(Chorus)

Said an old man come riding by,
Said, 'Young man, your mule's gonna die."
(Chorus)

If he dies, I'll tan his skin,
If he lives, I'll ride him again,
(Chorus)

I had an old mule, his name was Pete,
He walked on his head to save his feet.
(Chorus)

I had an old mule, his name was Bill,
I worked him on the holler and he died on the hill.
(Chorus)

I rode him to the river and I couldn't get him in,
I knocked him on the head with a buck car limb.
(Chorus)

I went to the river and I couldn't get across,
I hopped on a bull frog, thought he was a horse.
(Chorus)


Notes: From Jerry Jordan, Supertone 9407.
According to Randolph (Vol. II as Mister Booger) this song comes from an ante-bellum Negro reel (Scarborough, On Trail of Negro Folk Songs) Versions are reported from minstrels and medicine show comedians up until 1910, most of them using a tune derived from "Turkey in the Straw." There are also some sea shanteys about Johnny Booker. and Cousin Emmy (Kentucky) recorded a lively banjo version of this song.
Guitar and fiddle.

*Walter Smith says "coon"

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