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Lyr Req: Mule Ridin' Blues (Broonzy)

25 May 03 - 06:39 PM (#959087)
Subject: Lyr Req: BROONZY, 'MULE RIDIN BLUES'
From: Jeep man

There is plenty in the DT and Forum about Big Bill, but I can't locate the words to "Mule Ridin Blues". I have heard a snippet of it and it is mostly talking and picking hot guitar. Jim

25 May 03 - 10:27 PM (#959146)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BROONZY, 'MULE RIDIN BLUES'
From: masato sakurai

Big Bill Broonzy's "Mule Ridin' Blues" is on Big Bill Broonzy :Trouble in Mind (Smithsonian Folkways 40131) [with audio sample].

25 May 03 - 11:16 PM (#959162)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BROONZY, 'MULE RIDIN BLUES'
From: Jeep man

Thanks again Masato. Jim

27 May 03 - 10:27 AM (#959751)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BROONZY, 'MULE RIDIN BLUES'
From: Jim Dixon

Here's my transcription of the sound sample:

One day I was riding along on my old mule,
Minding my own business and I wasn't bothering a soul.
I seen a raccoon and a possum.
The raccoon was up the 'simmon tree and the poor possum he was on the ground.
And I heard the possum holler up to the raccoon, say, "Hey, Bub, will you throw me some 'simmons down?"
And the raccoon hollered down to the possum, say, "Look, Bub," say, "You in the shade laying down. Now what you worried about?"

It sounds like a lead-in to the old song variously called:
Possum up a Simmon Tree
Possum in the Simmon Tree
Possum in de 'Simmon Tree
Raccoon and Possum
The Raccoon and the Possum

27 May 03 - 08:52 PM (#960129)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BROONZY, 'MULE RIDIN BLUES'
From: Jeep man

Good job Jim. I'll get it all yet. Jim

28 May 03 - 03:03 AM (#960272)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BROONZY, 'MULE RIDIN BLUES'
From: Jim Dixon

Songs with verses about [o]possums, [rac]coons, and [per]simmon trees:

In the DT:
Bile Dem Cabbage Down
Blue-Eyed Girl

In the Forum:
Sugar Hill
Boil Them Cabbage Down
Boil Them Cabbage Down - source unknown
Cotton Field Song from the Lomaxes.
Old Hat recorded by the Leake County Revelers.

28 May 03 - 09:44 PM (#960918)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BROONZY, 'MULE RIDIN BLUES'
From: Jeep man

Jim,you have really been working. I will check each one of these. Jim

28 May 03 - 10:14 PM (#960936)
Subject: Lyr Add: MULE RIDIN' BLUES (Big Bill Broonzy)
From: ddw

Jeep man --

I think this is what you're looking for.

MULE RIDIN' BLUES
By Bill Broonzy

One day I was ridin' along on my ol' mule,
Mindin' my own business and I wasn't botherin' a soul.
So I seed a ratcoon [raccoon] and a possum.
The ratcoon was up the 'simmon tree and the poor possum he was on the ground.
And I heared the possum holler up to the ratcoon, say, "Hey, Bub, will you throw me some 'simmons down?"
And the ratcoon hollered down to the possum, say, "Look, Bub," say, "You in the shade layin' down. Now what you worried about?"

So I spurred my mule and I went ridin' on down the road
Mindin' my own business and I wasn't botherin' a soul.
So I seed a rabbit and he was in the pea vine.
So I say, "Hey, Bub," I say, "Where you gwine [going]?"
So he bucked his eyes and he curled his tail; he said, "Look, Bub, I'm looking for muscadine."

So I spurred my mule and went ridin' on down the road
Mindin' my own business and I wasn't botherin' a soul.
So I seed a little red hen and a rooster
And I heared the little red hen say to the rooster, say, "Look, Bub," says, "I ain't gon' take this settin' down."
Say, "Me here hatchin' all white, black and brown, and you out catfishin' all over town."

So I spurred my mule and I went ridin' on down the road.
So I seed a beautiful girl,
So I say, "Hey, lady, are you married?"
She say, "No, Bub, and never been kissed."
I said, "Well, look, I got a twenty-dollar bill and a Cadillac car
And I knows a cute little place right over the hill."
She say, "Hey, Bub," said, "To heck with your Cadillac car, but keep talkin' about that hill and them twenty-dollar bills."

So I spurred my mule and I went ridin' on down the road
Mindin' my own business and I wasn't botherin' a soul.
So finally I rode into town
And I seed a man standin' at the window pullin' off his clothes.
Every time he'd pull off a piece, he'd throw it out the window.
So I say, "Hey, Bub," I say, "What goes?"
He said, "Look, Bub, if you knowed what I paid for this room and what's in it, them clothes I'm throwin' out the window'd be out of style when I come down."

cheers,

david

28 May 03 - 11:11 PM (#960963)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BROONZY, 'MULE RIDIN BLUES'
From: Jeep man

Man alive,David. You have done some hard work and I really appreciate it. Now I have to memorize it. Jim

29 May 03 - 06:53 PM (#961516)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BROONZY, 'MULE RIDIN BLUES'
From: McGrath of Harlow

"gwine" means the same as "going"

29 Sep 14 - 06:37 AM (#3664418)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mule Ridin' Blues (Broonzy)
From: GUEST

well done

07 Jun 16 - 08:53 AM (#3794229)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mule Ridin' Blues (Broonzy)
From: GUEST,Tom Schulte

What does "catfishin' all over town" mean in this context, since it pre-dates the social media definition?