Conversation With A Mule Songtext
von Arthur Smith

Oh, mule, you′re the son of a donkey and I'm in the image of God
Yet here we work, hitched together, toiling and tilling the sod
I wonder if you work for me or I work for you, oh mule
At times I think its a partnership between a mule and a doggone fool
When plowing we go the same distance but I work harder than you
You skim the ground on four good legs and I hobble along on two
So mule, mathematically speaking, your four legs ′gainst my two


I do twice the work per leg, I do twice as much as you
Now soon we'll be making the corn crop
That crop will be split three ways
A third for you, a third for me, and a third for the landlord's pay
You take your third and eat it, you′re getting the best and how
I split my third amongst a wife and
Eight kids, a banker, six hens, and a cow
And right here, mule, I might mention, you only plow the ground

I shock the corn and husk it while you′re hee-hawing around
All fall and part of the winter, oh mule, you know its true
I break my back with a cotton sack
Trying to pay off the mortgage on you

The only time I'm your better is when elections come
A man can vote and a mule cannot but that don′t worry you none
Because you're a wise old donkey, you know what to worry about
You knew politics wouldn′t help you none and I'm just finding it out
So mule, confidentially speaking, would you change places with me?
Would you take up all my worries and still contented be?
Would you swap places, I′m asking? Of course, you know we couldn't
But would you if you could? Now tell the
Truth, you're doggone right you wouldn′t