Mule Skinner Blues Explained

Blue Yodel no. 8
Mule Skinner Blues
Type:song
Artist:Jimmie Rodgers
B-Side:Jimmie’s Mean Mama Blues
Published: by Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc., New York[1]
Recorded:[2]
Studio:Hollywood Recording Studios, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, California
Label:Victor 23503

"Blue Yodel no. 8, Mule Skinner Blues" (a.k.a. "Muleskinner Blues", and "Muleskinner's Blues") is a classic country song written by Jimmie Rodgers. 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).

"George Vaughn", a pseudonym for songwriter George Vaughn Horton, is sometimes listed as co-author. Horton wrote the lyrics for "New Mule Skinner Blues", Bill Monroe's second recorded version of the song.[3]

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, Shine." / "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". The term "Mule Skinner", slang for muleteer, is a driver of mules, and has nothing to do with removing the animal's hide.

Tom Dickson's "Labor Blues"

The first verse of 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
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)
Type:single
Artist:Dolly Parton
Album:The Best of Dolly Parton
B-Side:More Than Their Share
Released:June 1970
Recorded:May 4, 1970
Studio:RCA Studio B, Nashville
Genre:Country
Length:3:10
Label:RCA Victor 47-9863
Producer:Bob Ferguson
Prev Title:Daddy Come and Get Me
Prev Year:1969
Next Title:Joshua
Next Year:1970
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s

Charting versions

Release
date
ArtistChart Positions
U.S. C&W</small>U.S.CAN C&W</small>U.K.
1960The Fendermen16[8] 5[9] 32[10]
1970Dolly Parton34
1976Jerry Palmer3

Notes and References

  1. Book: Library of Congress. Copyright Office. . Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1931 Musical Compositions For the Year 1931 New Series Vol 26 Part 3 . 1931 . U.S. Govt. Print. Off. . United States Copyright Office . English.
  2. Web site: Victor matrix PBVE-54863. Blue yodel no. 8 / Jimmie Rodgers . 2022-12-14 . Discography of American Historical Recordings.
  3. Book: Rosenberg , Neil V. . 2007. The Music of Bill Monroe. 1st. University of Illinois Press. 978-0252031212. 83,84.
  4. Book: Rosenberg , Neil V. . 2007. The Music of Bill Monroe. 1st. University of Illinois Press. 978-0252031212. 26–28, 34.
  5. Web site: Bill Monroe Biography . AllMusic.com . 2012-04-09.
  6. Stranger Than You Think . The Vibro Champs . 1996 . CD liner notes . Ultramodern Records/Sci-Fi Western .
  7. Web site: Marcus Singletary Sings Country Music Standards. Amazon. 7 February 2013.
  8. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 121.

  9. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 292.

  10. Web site: officialcharts.com. officialcharts.com. December 16, 2021.