The most common involves soldiers in a camp taking a clever peddler's unattended mule and hiding it.

The chorus is: Come on, come on, Come on, old man, And don't be made a fool, By ev'ry one, You meet in camp, With "Mister, Here's your mule.

"[5] Following John Morgan's 1863 raid, sheet music destined for the Southern market had a chorus pasted in immediately after the final verse: Come on, come on, come on, old man, And don't be made a fool; I'll tell you the truth as best I can: "John Morgan's got your Mule!

The song, perhaps written by a cavalryman with the First Ohio,[7] tells of a plantation owner trying to retrieve his slaves and livestock.

The first verse and chorus are: A planter came to camp one day, His niggers for to find; His mules had also gone astray, And stock of every kind.

'"Chorus to last verse: Upon his Mule, He's gone they say To Dixie's Promised Land, And at no very distant day To lead a new command.

[10] Another variant of "Here's Your Mule" using the tune to "My Maryland" ("O Tannenbaum"), also of unknown authorship, was published in Nashville's Daily Union, July 14, 1863.