Lyr Req: Whoa Mule (Uncle Dave Macon)

Subject: Lyrics req: Whoa Mule
From:
Date: 21 Jul 98 - 12:21 AM

I have heard several people play this tune but the words don't stick. I have tried to transcribe from Uncle Dave Macon but am missing several lines. Please help?

Subject: RE: Lyrics req: Whoa Mule
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Jul 98 - 01:31 PM

as in, "Whoa, old mule..Miss Liza you keep cool, I aint got time to kiss you now, I'm busy with this mule"?

(there are a few other mule songs in the database but I didnt find that one..will type in the whole thing later today, if someone doesn't beat me to it)(one version, anyway...)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: GREENBACK (Uncle Dave Macon)
From: cnd
Date: 12 Sep 16 - 11:18 PM

Macon has several recordings about Mules, and I guess if they're not posted here yet I'll add all of them on this thread.

Before I get into this song, it is known both as "Greenback" and "Whoa Mule," though Uncle Dave Macon never made more than one or two recordings of it. The "Greenback" version omits the word "nigger" and has an added first stanza which my recording (the "Whoa Mule" version, as Youtube calls it) does not.

GREENBACK (Whoa Mule)

Once I had a brand new overcoat and I hung it on the wall
A nigger stole that overcoat, and whoa, mule, whoa

CHORUS
Hi yo that greenback, greenback, hi yo today
Hi yo, that greenback, that nigger walked away

You may ride the old gray horse, I will ride the roan
You may court your own true love, and leave my wife alone

CHORUS

Used for to live in the mountain, now I live in town
Boardin' at a big hotel, sparkin' all around

CHORUS

There's also a verse in a book that I used to help verify my transcription that that my recording doesn't have which goes as follows:

"If I had a scoldin' wife, I tell you what I'd do
Run my finger down her throat, gag her with my thumb"

Lyrics transcribed from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QkCLr-VN70

Book source: Folk Songs of Middle Tennessee: The George Boswell Collection By Charles K. Wolf

Subject: Lyr Add: GO 'LONG MULE (Uncle Dave Macon)
From: cnd
Date: 12 Sep 16 - 11:30 PM

The lyrics for "Go Along Mule" are already available on Mudcat here: thread.cfm?threadid=40362#579161 But just to have it in one place..

GO 'LONG MULE
As sung by Uncle Dave Macon

I've got a mule, he's such a fool
He never pays no heed
I build a fire right under him
And then I made some speed

CHORUS: Oh go 'long mule, don't you roll them eyes
You can change a fool, but a doggone mule
Is a mule until he dies

Oh Jerry Aches and Dottie Paines
Got married on the train
And now they say those Georgie woods
Are just full with aches and pains

I drove right down to the graveyard once
For to see those pals of mine
But when that black man crossed my path
I sure, Lord, changed my mind

I bought some biscuits for my dog
And I laid them on the shelf
I slept so hard I shot my dog
And eat that bread myself

A man way down in Georgia
Pulled his gun on me
But when he fired that second shot
I passed through Tennessee

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytDvJf21mgw

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Braying Mule (Dave Macon)
From: cnd
Date: 12 Sep 16 - 11:58 PM

I should have found this first, but, here it is now: a site with info about all these songs: http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/braying-mule--uncle-dave-macon.aspx

Dave Macon's "Go Along Mule" is an adaptation of Henry Creamer & Turner Layton's song "Whao Mule," but that song was actually taken from black traditional singing (source: http://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/LoF231.html)

That site gives Braying Mule as an adaptation of Thomas Westendorf's "Johnson's/Thompson's Old Grey Mule," and his version of Greenback or Whoa Mule as an adaptation of W.S. Hays' version

Macon's "Braying Mule" is more like most other people's version of "Johnson's Mule."

Hopefully now that all the confusing names are sorted out, I can get into the last one.

BRAYING MULE
(Thomas Westendorf)

Johnson had an old gray mule, he drove him to his car
He loved that mule and the mule loved him with all his mule-ish heart
Johnson knowed when the rooster crowed, day was gonna break
He rubbed him down with a big corn cob and curred him with his rake

CHORUS
That ole mule went [*insert mule noises*]
While Johnson curred him with his rake

His skin was good as purchase, hooves were hard as lead
He'll raise you like a feather, too, and raise you on your head
He would kick as quick as lightning, he had an iron jaw
He's just the thing to have around to tame your mother-in-law

CHORUS

He backed himself into a mule pond and kicked the ears from a frog
Killed seventeen Chiner-men and swallered a yeller dog
He kicked the feathers from a goose and broke an elephant's back
He stopped a Texas railroad train and kicked it off the track

CHORUS

They hitched him to a cart, all limp and lame was he
We hitched him up to that cart to see how he would be
He kicked three days and couldn't faze, he got so short of breath
He swallered one'a his left-hind legs and choked himself to death

CHORUS

Transcribed by ear. Occasional reference to here: http://www.topix.com/forum/who/pete-seeger/TAIDM7129QRQO2AGC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whoa Mule (Uncle Dave Macon)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 13 Sep 16 - 10:38 PM

Whoa mule, git up in the alley said Waw, waw, waw (maybe Walt, drawled?)
is a lyric fragment from somewhere.

Subject: Lyr Add: GO 'LONG MULE (Creamer & King)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Feb 19 - 11:26 PM

Lyrics below are from the sheet music at York University:


GO ’LONG, MULE
Words and music by Henry Creamer and Robert King, ©1924.

1. I’ve got a mule; he’s such a fool; he never pays no heed.
I built a fire ’neath his tail and then he showed some speed.

CHORUS: Go ’long, mule; don’t you roll dem eyes,
You can change a fool but a dawgone mule is a mule until he dies.

HEE HAW DANCE Sing in imitation of a Kazoo:
Tee tee teety tee. Tee tee teety tee. Tee tee tee tee.
Tee tee teety tee. Tee tee teety tee. Tee tee tee tee.

2. I drove down to the graveyard once, some peaceful rest to find,
But when a black cat crossed my path, I sure did change my mind. CHORUS

Extra Verses
Repeat Chorus after each

3. My gal’s old man don’t like me much; he’s got a heart of flint.
Last night I saw him buy a gun and I can take a hint.

4. I bought some biscuits for my dog and put them on the shelf.
Times got so hard I shot the dog and ate them up myself.

5. Both Rufus Akes and Rastus Payne got married down in Gaines,
And now they say the Georgia woods are full of Akes and Paynes.

6. A cowslip ain’t no kind of slip to slip upon a cow.
That why a catfish never answers to a cat’s meow.

7. A man in Georgia pulled a gun and took a shot at me.
Just as he took the second shot, I passed through Tennessee.

8. Bill Jones was taken ill while calling on his gal Salome.
What really caused his illness was her husband who came home.

9. They say someone’s been stealin’ things; it’s kinder newsed around.
I swear I don’t know who it is, but I am leaving town.

10. I’m goin’ to the river now to lay me down and die,
And if I in the water’s wet, I’ll wait until it’s dry.

11. My gal invited me to dine; I went prepared to eat,
But all she placed upon my plate was chicken necks and feet.

12. They’re gwine to hold a meeting there of some society.
There’s ’leven sheets upon the line; that’s ten too much for me.

13. My mule has such a dawgone rep, they call him Kickin’ Jim.
One day a bee lit on his knee and put a kick in him.

14. I strutted at the Barber’s Ball one night till half past three.
The shooting started and I said: “This is no place for me.”

15. Old lazy Henry found a hen; don’t know whose hen he found.
Each day the good hen laid a egg and Henry laid around.

16. The more you wait, the more you’ll hear the old folks all declare
Today I heard that Liza Green wore cotton underwear.

17. I thought I’d steal some home brew from our cellar in a cup.
As I sneaked down the stairs I met my old man sneakin’ up.

18. My Uncle Ben said children filled his yearning heart with pride.
He wed a widow with twelve kids; I hope he’s satisfied.

19. For ten years my old man ain’t spoke, ’cause Ma called him a liar,
But they went out together last night when our house caught afire.

20. They say here lies the last remains of Brother Snowball Thorn.
Although he led a quiet life, he didn’t hear the horn.

21. Old Brother Stout has just stepped out to rob a chicken coop.
When he returns he’ll find the sheriff waiting on the stoop.

22. My mule refused to work for me; I found the cause of that.
He learned I was Republican and he’s a Democrat.

23. A sardine is a little fish and hasn’t any hands,
And I would like to know how do they get into those cans.

24. Our cat fooled with Ma’s knitting bag and swallowed a ball of yarn,
And when that cat had kittens, why, they all had sweaters on.

25. Miss Mary had a little light; it was well trained, no doubt,
For ev’ry time a nice boy called, the little light went out.

26. A rich man has his private car; a poor man takes a train.
A hobo walks the railroad tracks but he gets there just the same.

27. The boy stood on the burning deck; the flames were singeing him.
The reason why he stood there was he knew he could not swim.

28. Old Hiram Johnson cut his whiskers off account of heat.
Next morning Mrs. Johnson served the boarders shredded wheat.

29. Our village doctor fell into the well on his way home.
He should have tended to the sick and let the well alone.

30. A half a dozen little kids has Mrs. Lena Pope.
My wife ain’t got no children yet, but where there’s life there’s hope.

31. I went and had myself insured ’cause I’m a clever guy.
I’ll get a hundred bucks to spend the minute that I die.

32. I went down to the racetrack once upon a tip to bet.
The horse was called Niag’ra Falls; I hear he’s running yet.

33. I heard three little birdies sneeze ’way high up in the trees.
I knew why they were catching cold; they had no B.V.D.’s.

34. You’ve heard the tale of Rastus Jones who suffered with cold feet.
He ate a dozen prickly pears; now he’s got prickly heat.

35. There are no fleas in Alabam’ and none in Tennessee,
’Cause when my little puppy died, he willed them all to me.

36. I was the hen-inspector man ’way down in Hackensack.
One farmer didn’t know I was and shot me in the back.

37. They took my mattress Tuesday morn; they took my bed today,
But I should give a good gosh darn; I can’t sleep anyway.

38. When I get in a motor race, I never come in first,
But when I die, I’ll lead them all, ’cause I’ll be in the hearse.

39. I don’t care ’bout no constabule; fear I no town police.
They may find feathers at my house; they’re too late for the geese.

40. When Jones stayed out, he told his wife the king of fairy tales.
He said that he’d been playing polo with the Prince of Wales.

41. I went in bathing one hot day; up came a thunderstorm.
Some fresh kid went and stole my clothes; oh, sweet September morn!

42. Today my landlord sent me word he had to have his rent.
That only means there’s gwine to be a good man in a tent.

43. I went to call on my best girl; her bulldog jumped at me.
He bit me on the old back porch right near the maple tree.

44. While Coolidge had a squab for lunch, Dawes smoked a cigarette,
And Davis looked through Bryan’s glass to see what La Foll-ette.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whoa Mule (Uncle Dave Macon)
From: GUEST,open mike
Date: 05 Feb 19 - 03:21 PM

The mule song I remember is one i heard on an old 78 RPM record at the old homestead...i think it was by Chubby Parker... Whoa Mule Whoa
it went on to say: can't you hear them holler, tie a bow knot in the tail or he'll jump through the collar, why don't you turn him on the track, why don't yo let him go? every time I turn around it's Whoa Mule Whoa...Whoa, Mule, Whoa by Chubby Parker, 1927            
Chubby Parker... Whoa Mule Whoa 1927

Whoa Mule Whoa don't you hear him holler,
Tie a bow knot in his tail or he'll jump through the collar,
Why don't you put him on the track, why don't you let him go?
Every time he comes around it's Whoa there Mule Whoa...

Chorus
Riding on a hump back mule, oh, mule, riding on a hump back mule
When I pass her by she winks that rogueish eye
Riding on a hump back mule

Whoa mule whoa, you got them eyes a blinkin’
You switch your tail, you lift your foot, You got me a thinking
Something’s gonna happen sure, To you or me I know
Every time he looks around it’s whoa there mule whoa
        Chorus
Whoa mule whoa He certainly am a sinner
He bit the tail off grand dad’s calf and ate if for his dinner
He killed a pig and kicked a cow, He’s certainly on the go
Every time he comes around it’s whoa there mule whoa
        Chorus
Whoa mule whoa I’m done with you forever
You ain’t no good, you never was, You never could be neither
You’re gonna die and take a trip To the hot place down below
When old Satan sees you coming in he’ll shout Whoa there mule Whoa
Chorus