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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Songwriter
Kathleen Brennan
Kathleen Brennan
Songwriter

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Molly be damned smote Jimmy the Harp
With a horrid little pistol and a lariat
She's goin' to the bottomĀ and goin' down the drain
Said she wasn't big enough to carry it
Said she wasn't big enough to carry it
[Verse 2]
Well, the rampaging sons of the widow James
Jack the Cutter and the pock-marked kid
Had to stand naked at the bottom of the cross
And tell the good Lord what they did
[Chorus]
They had to get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
Had to get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
They had to get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
Get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
[Verse 3]
Jesus of Nazareth told Mike of the Weeds
Was born at this time for a reason
And when I'm dead, I'll be dead a long time
But the wine is so red and so pleasin'
The wine is so red and so pleasin'
[Verse 4]
Big Jack Earl was 8-foot-1
He stood in the road and he cried
Couldn't make her love him, couldn't make her stay
But tell the good Lord that he tried
[Chorus]
Had to get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
Had to get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
Got to get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
Get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
[Verse 5]
Choppity-chop goes the axe in the woods
Gotta meet me by the fall down tree
Shovel of dirt upon a coffin lid
I know they'll come a-lookin' for me, boys
I know they'll come a-lookin' for me
[Verse 6]
The dusty trail from Atchison to Placerville
Saw the wreck of the Weaverville stage
A Yankee traitor drinkin' old lemonade
I was stirring my brandy with a nail
[Chorus]
Someday, I have to get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
I have to get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
I have to get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
Get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
Have to get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
Get behind the Mule
In the morning and plow
[Outro]
In the morning and plow
In the morning and plow
In the morning and plow
In the morning and plow
Written by: Kathleen Brennan, Tom Waits
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