Mule Skinner Blues
"Mule Skinner Blues" (a.k.a. "Blue Yodel #8", "Muleskinner Blues", and "Muleskinner's Blues") is a classic country song written by Jimmie Rodgers; "George Vaughn" is sometimes listed as co-author; the name is a pseudonym for Vaughn Horton, who wrote Bill Monroe's "New Mule Skinner Blues" the second version recorded by Monroe.
The song was first recorded by Rodgers in 1930 and has been recorded by many artists since then, acquiring the de facto title "Mule Skinner Blues" after Rodgers named it "Blue Yodel #8" (one of his Blue Yodels).
Structure
The song tells the tale of a down-on-his-luck mule skinner, approaching "the Captain", looking for work ("Good Morning, Captain / Good Morning to you, son. / Do you need another muleskinner on your new mud line?"). He boasts of his skills: "I can pop my 'nitials on a mule's behind" and hopes for "a dollar and a half a day". He directs the water boy to "bring some water round".
Tom Dickson's "Labor Blues"
The first verse the song is similar to Tom Dickson's 1928 recording "Labor Blues" in which the exchange is clearly between a white boss and an African-American worker who is quitting the job, not applying for it:
- It’s "good mornin’ Captain", ‘e said "good mornin’ Shine",
- Said "good mornin’ Captain", said "good mornin’ Shine".
- "T’ain’t nuthin’ the matter, Captain, but I just ain’t gwine.
- "I don’t mind workin’, Captain, from sun to sun,
- I don’t mind workin’, Captain, from sun to sun.
- But I want my money, Captain, when pay-day come."
Captain was a traditional term for the white boss; Shine is a derogatory expression for "African-American". Dickson was black. After the narrator rebels and quits because he is not being paid, he turns his attention to his "Mississippi gal" and the remaining lyrics concern their romance. In this 12-bar blues recording, muleskinning is not mentioned, and the remaining Dickson lyrics differ from Rodgers', whose other Blue Yodels also used verses previously recorded by Blues musicians, such as Blind Lemon Jefferson.
Versions of "Muleskinner Blues"
1930s
- Rodgers's recording in the early 1930s was a hit.
- It later became one of bluegrass creator Bill Monroe's signature songs, when he recorded it in 1940, singing all of Rodgers' lyrics and throwing in a half-dozen traditional blues lyrics at the end.
1940s
- Woody Guthrie recorded the song in 1944 for Asch Recordings. A 1998 Guthrie album is named Muleskinner Blues - Asch Recordings, Vol. 2 and features his version.
1950s
1960s
- The Fendermen - Mule Skinner Blues (Soma Records, 1960)
This Madison, Wisconsin-based duo reached #5 on the Billboard charts with their version, featuring abbreviated lyrics and strong Fender electric guitar instrumentation.
- Jose Feliciano - "Mule Skinner Blues" (RCA Victor Records, 1964)
- A novelty version of the song, "Batskinner" by Robin & The Batmen (Sara 6612, 1966), was inspired by both the The Fendermen version of "Mule Skinner Blues" and the popular Batman television series. ("Good morning, Commissioner!")
- Bob Dylan made this song part of his live performance at the Finjan Club, Montreal, Canada in July 1962.
1970s
- Dolly Parton - The Best Of Dolly Parton (1970) This 1970 recording of the song reached #3 on the U.S. country charts, and earned Parton a Grammy nomination.
- Jerry Reed recorded "Muleskinner Blues" in 1971 on the album "Georgia Sunshine". Chet Atkins plays on the right channel, and takes one guitar solo.
- Levi's used a variation of this song for its blue jeans commercial using stop motion animation, around 1972. Lyrics included:
"Good Morning, World! Good Morning to you! I'm Wearing my Levi's, Le-hee-hee-hee-vis!"
- Jerry Garcia played "Muleskinner Blues" with Old and in the Way and the Wildwood Boys, around 1973
- The bluegrass supergroup Muleskinner were named after the song, and led off their only studio album, "Muleskinner", with a version in 1973.
1980s
- The Cramps - Stay Sick (1989)
- The Brothers Four- "Muleskinner" (July 11, 1989) This is a version arranged by Stuart Gotz and performed by The Brothers Four. It appears on the compilation album Folk Classics: Roots of American Folk Music. While this version does include some bluegrass-like elements, it primarily uses a western show tune style.
1990s
2000s
References