Mule Skinner Blues

"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).

"Blue Yodel no. 8
Mule Skinner Blues"

Jimmie’s Mean Mama Blues^[1]

February 13, 1931 (1931-02-13) by Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc., New York^[2]

February 6, 1931 (1931-02-06)

July 11, 1930 (1930-07-11)^[1]

Hollywood Recording Studios, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, California^[1]

Hillbilly (Country)
Country blues

2:50

Victor 23503^[1]

Jimmie Rodgers

"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[edit]

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.