“Whoa Mule (The Kickin' Mule)”

Description

The singer describes courting and the dangers of a kicking mule which "kicked the feathers off a goose," etc. The stubborn mule Simon Slick is often mentioned. The chorus will generally contain the instruction "Whoa, mule."

Notes

Every version of this I've heard sung uses the Lomax chorus, "Whoa, mule, I tell you, Miss Liza, you keep cool; I ain't got time to kiss you now; I'm busy with my mule." It doesn't seem to show up much in tradition, though (it is found in the Brown text in a slightly different form). - RBW

Trying to sort out "Whoa, Mule," "Johnson's Old Grey Mule," and related songs is Excedrin Headache #1927. We've lumped them for want of a better solution.

This shouldn't be confused with a fiddle piece, "The Kickin' Mule," made popular by Fiddlin' John Carson; that one has a different tune. - PJS"

Cross references

  • cf. "Going Down to Cairo" (words)

Recordings

  • Roy Acuff, "Whoa Mule" (Capitol 2738, 1954)
  • Clarence Ashley & Tex Isley, "Whoa Mule" (on Ashley01)
  • Loman D. Cansler, "Kickin' Maud [or Kickin' Maude]" (on Cansler1)
  • Bill Chitwood & Bud Landress, "Whoa Mule" (Silvertone 3050, 1924; Brunswick 2811, 1925)
  • Al Clauser & his Oklahoma Outlaws, "Whoa, Mule, Whoa" (Melotone 7-08-63, 1937)
  • Elisha Cox, "Whoa Mule" (AAFS 547 A2)
  • Vernon Dalhart, "Go Long Mule" (Banner 1416 [as Bob White], 1924; Banner 32130 [as Sid Turner], 1931) (Pathe 32068/Perfect 12147 [both as Sid Turner], 1924)
  • J. D. Dillingham & O. J. Light, "Whoa, Maude, Whoa" (AAFS 899 B2)
  • Samuel Clay Dixon, "Whoa, Mule, Whoa" (AAFS 1749 B3/1750 A1)
  • Carl Fenton & his Orch. "Go Long Mule" (Brunswick 2683, 1924)
  • Leonard C. Fulwinder, "Whoa Mule, Whoa" (Victor V-40270, 1930; Aurora [Canadian] 238, c. 1932)
  • Georgia Yellow Hammers, "Jonnson's Old Grey Mule" (Victor 20550, 1927); "The Sale of Simon Slick - Pts. 1 & 2" (Victor V-40069, 1929)
  • Happiness Boys (Billy Jones & Ernest Hare, "Go Long Mule" (Columbia 194-D, 1924)
  • The Hillbillies, "Whoa! Mule" (OKeh 40376, 1925)
  • Hinson, Pitts & Coley, "Whoa Mule Whoa" (Bluebird B-7438, 1938)
  • Paul Holland, "Whoa, Mule, Whoa" (AAFS 3217 A1)
  • Al Hopkins & his Buckle Busters [or John Hopkins], "Whoa, Mule" (Brunswick 179, 1927)
  • International Novelty Orch. "Go Long Mule" (Victor 19442, 1924)
  • Matilda Keene, "Whoa, Larry, Whoa" (AAFS 979 B1)
  • Louisiana Lou, "Go Long Mule" (Victor 23858, c. 1934; Bluebird 5749, 1935; rec. 1933)
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers, "Johnson's Old Grey Mule" (Bluebird B-6584/Montgomery Ward M-7006, 1936)
  • Bert Martin, "Whoa, Mule" (AAFS 1479 B2)
  • Chubby Parker, "Whoa Mule, Whoa" Gennett 6120/Silvertone 5011, 1927; Supertone 9189, 1928) (Conqueror 7892, 1927)
  • Pickard Family, "Thompson's Old Gray Mule" (Oriole 1502/Challenge 990/Jewel 5562, 1929; Conqueror 7736, 1931; Broadway 8179 [as Pleasant Family])
  • Riley Puckett, "Johnson's Old Gray Mule" (Columbia 150-D, 1924); "Whoa Mule" (Columbia 15040-D, 1925; Silvertone 3258, 1926)
  • Prairie Ramblers, "Jim's Windy Mule" (Conqueror 8648, 1936; Vocalion 03587, 1937 [as Sweet Violet Boys])
  • Hobart Ricker, "Whoa, Mule, Whoa" (AAFS 3904 B4)
  • Pete Seeger, "Old Grey Mule" (on PeteSeeger08, PeteSeegerCD02)
  • Shelton Brothers, "Johnson's Old Gray Mule" (Decca 5161, 1935) (King 646, 1947); "Go Long Mule" (Decca 5422, 1937)
  • Roba Stanley [or Stanley Trio] "Whoa! Mule" (OKeh 40271, 1925)
  • Gid Tanner & his Skillet Lickers, "Johnson's Old Gray Mule" (Columbia 15221-D, 1928; rec. 1927); "Whoa, Mule, Whoa" (Bluebird B-5591, 1934)
  • Sid Turner, "Go 'Long Mule" (Perfect 12147, 1924)
  • Tom Watson [pseud. for Gid Tanner & Riley Puckett], "Johnson's Mule" (Harmony 5095-H, n.d.)
  • Ukulele Bob Williams, "Go Long Mule" (Paramount 12247, 1925; rec. 1924)

References

  1. BrownIII 513, "The Kicking Mule" (1 text)
  2. Scarborough-NegroFS, p. 186, "Whoa, Mule!" (1 text, 1 tune)
  3. Brewster 84, "Simon Slick" (2 texts, longer than most, 1 tune)
  4. Lomax-FSNA 231, "The Kickin' Mule" (1 text, 1 tune)
  5. Pankake-PHCFSB, pp. 62-63, "Whoa, Mule, Whoa" (1 text, tune referenced)
  6. Shellans, pp. 76-77, "The Kicking Mule" (1 text, 1 tune)
  7. DT, SIMONSLK*
  8. Roud #3774
  9. BI, LoF231

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1924 (recordings, Bill Chitwood & Bud Landress, Sid Turner, RIley Puckett)
Found in: US(Ap,MW,SE,So)