Today’s song of the day is the western novelty song “Mule Train” by Frankie Laine.

Fun Facts

• The song was written by Fred Glickman, Johnny Lange, and Hy Heath. Singer/dobro player Buz Butler performed it first in 1947.
• Versions by Frankie Laine and Tennessee Ernie Ford reached #1 on the Billboard charts in 1949. That same year, Vaughn Monroe’s version peaked at #10.
• Bing Crosby’s version was featured on the radio show Lassie in 1949 and peaked at #4 on the charts.
• Ford’s version features country singer Merle Travis who provides the whip sound effect with his mouth in an echo chamber.
• Other performers with popular versions include:
  • Nat “King” Cole
  • Grandpa Jones
  • Burl Ives
  • Duane Eddy
  • Marty Stuart

Lyrics 

(Musixmatch)

Mule train! (Hyah, hyah)

Mule train!

Clippety cloppin’ over hill and plain

Seems as how they never stop, clippety clop, clippety clop

Clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety cloppin’ along

There’s a plug o’chaw tobacky for a rancher in Corona

A ghee-tar for a cowboy ‘way out in Arizona

A dress of calico for a pretty Navajo

Get along, mule!, get along

Mule train! (Hyah, hyah)

Mule train!

Clippety cloppin’ o’er the mountain chain

Soon they’re gonna reach the top, clippety clop, clippety clop

Clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety cloppin’ along

There’s some cotton thread and needles for the folks in way-out-yonder

A shovel for a miner who left his home to wander

Some rheumatism pills for the settlers in the hills

Get along, mule!, get along

Mule train! (Hyah, hyah)

Mule train!

Clippety cloppin’ through the wind and rain

They’ll keep goin’ till they drop, clippety clop, clippety clop

Clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety cloppin’ along

There’s a letter full of sadness trimmed with black around the border

A pair of boots for someone who had them made to order

A bible in the pack for the Reverend Mr. Black

Get along, mule!, get along

Get along, mule, get along! (mule train)