Tom Waits

Get Behind The Mule

Tom Waits


Tom: Dm

Dm
Molly b'Damn smote Jimmy the Harp
Dm
With a horrid little pistol and a lariat
Dm
She's goin to the bottom
Dm
And she's goin down the drain
Dm
Said she wasn't big enough to carry it


[Chorus]
Dm
She got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
She got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
She got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
She got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow


[Verse 2]
Dm
Choppity chop goes the axe in the woods

You gotta meet me by the fall down tree
Dm
Shovel of dirt upon a coffee lid

And I know they'll come lookin' for me boys
Dm
And I know they'll come a-lookin' for me


[Chorus]
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow


[Verse 3]
Dm
Big Jack Earl was 8'1'

He stood in the road and he cried
Dm
He couldn't make her love him

Couldn't make her stay
Dm
But tell the good Lord that he tried


[Chorus]
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow


[Verse 4]
Dm 
Dusty trail from Atchison to Placerville

On the wreck of the Weaverville stage
Dm
Beulah fired on Beatty for a lemonade

I was stirring my brandy with a nail boys
Dm
Stirring my brandy with a nail


[Chorus]
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow


[Verse 5]
Dm
Well the rampaging sons of the widow James

Jack the Cutter and the pock marked kid

Dm
Had to stand naked at the bottom of the cross

And tell the good lord what they did

Dm
Tell the good lord what they did


[Chorus]
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow


[Verse 6]
Dm
Punctuated birds on the power line

In a Studebaker with the Birdie Joe Hoaks
Dm
I'm diggin all the way to China with a silver spoon

While the hangman fumbles with the noose, boys
Dm
The hangman fumbles with the noose


[Chorus]
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow


[Verse 7]
Dm
Pin your ear to the wisdom post

Pin your eye to the line
Dm
Never let the weeds get higher than the garden

Always keep a sapphire in your mind
Dm
Always keep a diamond in your mind


[Chorus]
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule

In the morning and plow
Dm
Got to get behind the mule