singer/songwriter Michael Gaither


	Lyrics to "Spotted Mule and Other Tales" (2006) (Purchase the CD)

	Still Walkin’ Spotted Mule Highway 17 Takin’ Baby Steps Good God Man How Big a Car Do You Need? Jack of All Trades Entertaining an Angel Broke Not Stubborn Not My Mule Old-Tyme Heaven High and Lonesome
	Still Walkin’
	A long walk often helps me hash out a song idea, so this seemed an appropriate topic for the opening track. I love the sound of a dobro. Trading that back and forth with the harmonica had a nice feel.

	I learned to walk on two small feet Kept on walking to the end of my street Walked a path that always lead home ‘til I found the nerve walk on my own I’m still walking Walked in places where I used to play (but you) Can’t go back – everything’s changed Walked down roads I knew I shouldn’t Walked up hills I thought I couldn’t And I’m still walking Walked with people I’m glad to have met Along with a few I’d best forget I’m sure I’ve had the same effect A few good breaks, a few regrets Still walkin’ Out walking my dog at the end of her leash A black and white world is all she sees Man, I wish it were simple that way But this whole world is just shades of grey I wouldn’t have it any other way All I can do until I call it a day Is keep walking I’m still walking I’m still walking

	(back)
	Spotted Mule
	My wife and I passed this gorgeous brown and white spotted mule on the way home one day, and she said, “You should write about that mule”. This was one of those rare songs that just fell into your lap.

	Saw him out on Larkin’s Farm Standing in the rain They take in horses to raise and train This odd beast was just standing in a field I think I know how he feels Spotted mule on Old Adobe Road Dad was a donkey – momma was a roan Pass him every day on my way back home Wonder if he feels alone He’s no Silver or Trigger you see Won’t be in the movies or up on the TV But if I had my way, I’d saddle him and say “Heigh-Yo spotted mule, away” Spotted mule on Old Adobe Road… Pegasus rose from the blood of Medusa Spotted mule’s mom was a brown Appaloosa A mule doesn’t breed – he’s one of a kind If you’re a misfit, friend You’re a friend of mine Spotted mule on Old Adobe Road… Yeah, he’s unique like you and me and everyone I know Wonder if he feels alone
	((back)
	Highway 17
	The scenic, four-lane highway that connects Santa Cruz, California to San Jose (Silicon Valley) is a hairy experience when you’re dodging distracted drivers, gravel trucks, and motorcycles “splitting lanes…even in the pouring rain”.

	High-strung yuppie in an SUV Hits the brakes in front of me 6:00 a.m., highway 17 Motorcycles splittin' lanes Even in the pourin' rain People ain't too bright, on highway 17 Out the door in the dark again First thing in the morning, coffee in hand Getting ready to make that dreadful drive See there's this windy road on the way to work People goin' to fast and they don't even look While the rest of us wonder if we'll make it back home alive Gravel truck spittin' rock The guy behind him cuts me off Every day on highway 17 There's some guy changing a flat Everybody slow down - take a look at that So much to see on highway 17 It's a perfect picture of the human race There's a chick on the phone Some guy shaving his face Once I saw a driver in the fast lane w Watching TV We're just going to work It shouldn't be that hard You just keep up with traffic Look out for cars Everybody play nice Like when we were three Porsche passes me at 85 Cop gives his partner a big high five Pickin’ ‘em off on highway 17 Horns are honking, cars are rude Lots of pent-up attitude Then one day, it all occurred to me See it took me years to realize Some people just ain't satisfied Unless they’re doing all they can to get ahead So you can drive like an idiot, I don’t care They’ll still have work whenever I get there Hurry on by - I’ll take my time instead So it’s up at 5:00 and out the door Wonder what the hell I’m doin’ this for But now I have my own philosophy It ain’t hard, let people pass Keep your eyes on the road, stay off my back We'll survive highway 17 Day after day on highway 17 Got my life in my hands on highway 17 Just get me home, from highway 17
	(back)
	Takin’ Baby Steps
	This was written for my little cousin Emily, now four years old and way beyond baby steps.

	Baby Emma One year old today See her hit the floor And crawl away Finds a sturdy wall Tries to stand That kid’s determined She has plans Should be that easy Forty years down the road You need somethin’ done You just move forward (but) Things seem difficult They’re really not that way If she could talk Little Emma’d say (just take…) “Baby steps, so you trip and fall (takin’) Baby steps - before you walk, you gotta crawl” If you stop before you start That’s as far as you’ll ever get Everything begins with baby steps You might feel stuck Afraid to make a move Hung up on somethin’ In the past that fell through Might be your daily grind Fighting against change You gotta move (but) Everything remains (You’re not takin’) Baby steps... Every baby learns to walk – imagine that Small steps make big ones if you do the math So walk along beside me You don’t need to crawl And I’ll be there to catch you if you stumble Or you fall I’m watching Emma She finally stands Holding up that wall with her little hands Takes her first real steps Her knees shake a bit Wish I had the courage of that little kid (takin’) Baby steps... Everything begins with baby steps Takin’ – baby steps
	(back)
	Good God Man How Big a Car Do You Need?
	I still remember ten years or so back when the Road Ranger was the biggest thing on the road. Cars have since become huge (the Suburban, the Hummer), and parking slots have become smaller. For me, it all boils down to the irony of an off-road vehicle with chrome bumpers.

	Heading home Late at night Blinded by two white lights Rear view mirror All I could see Big and bright and it was coming at me Thought I saw a UFO Tried to run me off the road A blue Suburban Seats fifteen Good God man how big a car do you need? There’s a Hummer ahead I just don’t understand Why not just get a Jeep And then torch eighty grand? They’re crowding the highways Lined up ‘round the block I wouldn’t mind it so much If they’d just learn how to park Roads are such a mess Everybody’s compensating For something I guess Maybe it’s ego Self-esteem Good God man how big a car do you need? Good God man how big a car do you need? When I was younger - cars were cool We had a ’49 Plymouth - and an old Malibu Now size is all that matters - apparently Good God man how big a car do you need? Good God man how big a car do you need? I’m on the highway Running scared Just praying I make it from home from here But I’m surrounded This ain’t no fun These mutant station wagons Now they’re blocking the sun Not fooling anyone, ya know Like that Lincoln Navigator Has ever been off the road Maybe it’s ego Self-esteem Good God man how big a car do you need? That’s about the size of it if you ask me Good God man how big a car do you need? Good God man how big a car do you need?
	(back)
	Jack of All Trades
	Everyone’s bounced around from “job to job” at some point in their lives. Here’s my list.

	Ever since I was a little kid I always wondered what everyone did Adults so determined to go on their busy way I hopped around from job to job Flipping burgers, washing cars And never had an answer Whenever somebody’d say “Ain’t ya got it figured it out, yet?” “Whatcha doing when you grow up son?” Well, I don’t mind being a jack of all trades Wish I could master one I went to college part-time-forever Teachers asking me if I knew What I wanted to do ‘til it made me ill There were office jobs, assembly lines I even wrote for Jay Leno one time But nothing fun ever seemed to pay the bills “Ain’t ya got it figured it out yet...” I never had any definite plans But I’ve been here long enough To know that, man You just work to live It ain’t the other way around Some people chase careers Neglect everything else Waste the years ‘til the only time left Is when they’re settling into the ground A wise man once told me this Jobs come and go, gve it your best Do an honest day’s work Appreciate the people you meet I’ve left some things to chance But in a hundred year’s no one’ll ask If I – became a doctor or wrote my Ph.D. “Ain’t ya got it figured it out yet...”
	(back)
	Entertaining an Angel
	The bulk of this song is true. The ending might be true. Some people believe that there are angels cleverly hiding among us. If that’s true, this guy was a good candidate.

	The sign said he’d work for food I doubted it he didn’t look so good But I gave him a couple of bucks like everyone did I turned to walk away Heard, “Bless you son. Have a good day” Then remembered something I learned When I was a kid You might be entertaining an angel When you give some time To someone you don’t know Entertaining an angel You might meet one anywhere you go He said, “I could stand here and scream and shout” Nobody sees you when you’re down and out I stayed for awhile - saw it again and again We talked for awhile ‘til I had to go Gave him a twenty, but you know I think he only needed someone to listen to him You might be entertaining an angel… I don’t know where you’ve been What you went through or when But I won’t look away I might need you to look at me someday I shook his hand as I turned to leave Still thinking about the angels, and then he…Smiled and said, “I read that in the bible, too” “Stranger things have happened, son” Never know who’ll you meet when you help someone But that angel…it might be you You might be entertaining an angel… Yeah, you might meet one anywhere you go
	(back)
	Broke
	This one was an experiment to pull a lot of meaning out of one simple word.

	Can’t make an omelet ‘til you break a few eggs Rooster doesn’t crow Until the breaking of day Can’t get in shape ‘til you break a little sweat Yaeger broke the speed of sound And said “You ain’t seen nothing yet” Sounds funny But it ain’t no joke Some things don’t work Until they’re broke God made Elvis And he broke the mold Sutter broke a rock And he discovered gold Gotta break a horse To ride out on the range If you never break the rules Things will never really change Sounds funny ... Break a mirror and pay for seven years Like the superstitious say Sometimes you’ll bend until you break Sometimes you gotta break away A man don’t really pray Until he’s broke down on his knees To win the race You gotta break into the lead ‘til you break a fever You’re gonna stay in bed If you’re tired and you’re hungry Let’s break a little bread Sounds funny...
	(back)
	Not Stubborn Not My Mule
	After recording “Spotted Mule”, I learned that “stubborn as a mule” was really a myth, I felt the least I could do was document that in a song.

	I have a friend she lives out back Feed her breakfast from a gunny sack Strap on our bags, and we hit the road There’s days ahead and miles to go She’s not a donkey, not a horse They’re one step back in her family tree (of course) They call her stubborn, but that ain’t true She’s not stubborn, not my mule She has a reputation It’s an exaggeration She sticks to her own set of rules You get an honest hardworking day She’ll plow your fields and haul your hay But she’s not stubborn, not my mule A mule’s smart - she just don’t like change If it were up to mine Things would stay the same But she does the work and don’t complain Like a postman Through the sun, and snow, and rain She has a reputation...… Can’t make a horse who’s not thirsty drink Buy a man a book and he still won’t think Can’t count chickens before they hatch through But my mule’s a rock She’s dependable, that’s true She has a reputation...… She keeps going ‘til the sun goes down My mule’s a good ole girl to keep around She’s not impulsive – she thinks things through Stick around – you might learn a thing or two She has a reputation It’s an exaggeration Trust me – she’s nobody’s fool You get an honest hardworking day For a handful of grain and a little hay But she’s not stubborn, not my mule
	(back)
	Old-Tyme Heaven
	When we lost Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, I wanted to write something. But I didn’t want a maudlin hero-worship song. Instead, I wrote a song about old-tyme gospel music. This song really did start with a dream about a big ship with gospel music emanating from it.

	Climbed onboard a ship last night I was lost at sea The sails were trimmed and pearly white A hand came down to me Didn’t have no money But a man said “come on board” “You won’t be a wayfaring stranger anymore” Then the music started And I knew the sound It was old-time gospel I was back on solid ground When I hear those old, old songs I didin’t feel alone We were off to old-tyme heaven II was going home (and they sang…) “I’ll Fly Away” Let’s go “Down to the River to Pray” Heading off to “Canaan’s Land” Where the soul of man don’t die In old-tyme heaven the circle lies unbroken Bye and bye Saw Mother Maybelle Carter Daughters by her side June was holding Johnny’s hand He looks good in white Mahalia Jackson led the choir And asked us all to stand Carter Stanley played along It was a real live “Angel Band” (and they sang…) “I’ll Fly Away…” Woke up this morning Old-tyme heaven was a dream But the captain told me “stay on course” A and he’ll come back for me Never been a perfect soul I know I’ve sinned But when I lay me down to sleep for good I hope my ship comes in (and I’ll sing…) “I’ll Fly Away…”

	(back)
	High and Lonesome
	The CD concludes with a not-to-serious tale of a boy who almost gets the girl at a music festival. They meet. They connect. And then he discovers that things aren’t meant to be:

	Met her at a festival on one hot summer day Dancin’ in the meadow To a bluegrass band onstage Standing in the beer line, saw her and I knew The body of an angel, a face like Emmylou Waded through the tye-dye An low-back concert chairs True love within my reach AsI saw her standing there Moving past the t-shirt stand I finally made my way Walked up beside her And found the nerve to say I was high and lonesome Sad and blue Just high and lonesome Until I found you We talked about the music And it was clear to me From Bill Monroe to Newgrass She knew her history I was singing sad ole songs Until I found this girl A happy man again I was “Sittin’ On Top of the World” I was high and lonesome… I heard opposites attract I guess the opposite is true I told her how I felt, and then I knew Too sweet to tell me, she took me by the hand Pointed out her boyfriend Playing banjo in the band So I’m standing in the grass again Happens every year Remembering how I saw her Standing over here The music ain’t the same no more It’s very sad but true And everytime I hear a banjo It just gives me the blues I’m high and lonesome Sad and blue Just high and lonesome Darlin’ without you Yeah darlin’ without you

	(back)

	All lyrics copyright 2006-2009 Michael Gaither / MaryLou Tunes / ASCAP

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