One day Ol’ Mule heard the famer say to his wife, “That mule’s too old to pull a plow. I’m gonna take him down to the tannery and see what we can get for his hide.”
“Tannery? Hide?” Ol’ Mule’s ears pricked right up. “I may be old, but I’m not deaf. And I’m having none of that.” When the farmer wasn’t looking, he kicked open the gate and headed down the road.
He didn’t have any particular idea of where he wanted to go, but he thought he might head up to Memphis. He had heard that folks had some mighty good times up there. It was a bright, blue-sky day, so Ol’ Mule sang as he ambled along,
Going up to Memphis
Find my fortune there.
Going up to Memphis,
Find my fortune there.
‘Cause when I get t Memphis
They’ll be good times everywhere.
He brayed out loud and strong.
He hadn’t gone far when he saw an old cat sitting by the side of the road wailing out the saddest song he had ever heard.
My lady, she don’t love me,
Here’s how I can tell,
My lady, she don’t love me,
Here’s how I can tell,
She said, ‘I'm gonna take that old cat,
Drown her in the deepest well.’
“Why do you sing such a sad song?” Ol’ Mule asked.
“Just this morning I heard my missus say to her husband, ‘That cat’s too old to catch a rat. Time to drown her in the well.’ So I ran away.”
“No use sitting by the side of the road singing a sad song,” Ol’ Mule said. “I’m going up to Memphis to find my fortune. Why don’t you join me?”
“Much obliged for the invitation,” Ol’ Cat replied.
So they set off down the road braying and wailing out loud and strong,
Going up to Memphis,
Gonna shake off all my care.
Going up to Memphis,
Gonna shake off all my care.
‘Cause folks who live in Memphis,
Have good times everywhere.
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