Worried Down With The Blues

The Zoo Crew is spinning the soulful track Worried Down With The Blues by Gov't Mule from their 2001 album The Deep End, Vol. 1, and the Zoo Freaks are surely feeling the vibe. This song, featured on the album created as a tribute to the late bassist Allen Woody, showcases a stellar lineup with Oteil Burbridge on bass, Gregg Allman on vocals and organ, and Derek Trucks on slide guitar. The track’s raw emotion comes through in its lyrics, which speak of heartache and betrayal, with lines like “Been lying here for hours / Can’t get my eyes to close” capturing a restless, blues-soaked longing. According to a post on mick.over-blog.com, the song’s Allman Brothers-esque ambiance, amplified by Trucks’ slide guitar, makes it a standout, delivering “que du bonheur” (pure happiness) for listeners. The recording of this track was part of a larger project where Gov’t Mule invited 25 bassists to honor Woody’s legacy, resulting in a diverse and powerful album that reflects the band’s resilience after his tragic passing in 2000.

Another layer of trivia comes from the collaborative spirit behind Worried Down With The Blues. The song’s credits list Warren Haynes, Allen Woody, and John Jaworowicz as writers, highlighting Woody’s lingering influence even after his death. On Warren Haynes’ website, the track is noted for its heavy emotional weight, with Allman’s soulful vocals and Burbridge’s steady bass driving the blues narrative. Fans on YouTube have praised the song’s authenticity, with comments often highlighting how the guest musicians elevate its intensity. The The Deep End sessions, documented in the film Rising Low by Phish bassist Mike Gordon, were a cathartic process for Haynes and drummer Matt Abts, who nearly disbanded Gov’t Mule before deciding to celebrate Woody’s life through music. This track, in particular, resonates with Zoo Freaks for its gritty honesty and the way it channels personal loss into a universal blues experience.

Gov’t Mule began in 1994 as a side project of the Allman Brothers Band, born from the creative spark of guitarist Warren Haynes and bassist Allen Woody. Both musicians, who joined the Allman Brothers in 1989, shared a passion for 1960s power trios like Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and James Gang. With drummer Matt Abts, who had previously played with Haynes in the Dickey Betts Band, they formed Gov’t Mule to explore a heavier, blues-rock sound. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1995 and produced by Michael Barbiero, laid the groundwork for their signature Southern rock-jam band style. After leaving the Allman Brothers in 1997 to focus on Gov’t Mule full-time, Haynes and Woody built a cult following through relentless touring and improvisational live shows, a trait that continues to define the band. Despite Woody’s death in 2000, Haynes and Abts carried on, with The Deep End, Vol. 1 marking a pivotal moment in their evolution.

The band’s journey has been shaped by their ability to blend funk, blues, and rock while collaborating with icons like Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, and Flea during the The Deep End sessions. Gov’t Mule’s official website, mule.net, offers a deep dive into their discography and tour dates, while their Facebook page keeps fans updated with live performance clips and announcements. On Instagram, they share behind-the-scenes photos and fan interactions, and their X account engages with Zoo Freaks through real-time updates and song snippets. For dedicated fans, the Gov’t Mule Fan Group on Facebook is a vibrant community where members swap setlists, share concert photos, and discuss tracks like Worried Down With The Blues. While independent fan sites have waned, as noted in a Reddit thread, the Mule community thrives through these social platforms, keeping the band’s spirit alive.