MYSQL permissions problems

[gordon]

I'm having trouble with the root account for mysql.

database.yml
...
username: mysql
password: mypassword
...

In deploy.rb mysql_root_password is commented out

cap ec2onrails:setup starts database and sets up accounts. Checking
in mysql shell shows three root entries with no password and a mysql
user in host "%" and a password set.

cap deploy:cold fails at the same place as several others have
posted

executing "cd /mnt/app/releases/20080516174113; rake
RAILS_ENV=production db:migrate" servers:
["ec2-xxxxxx.compute-1.amazonaws.com"] [ec2-
xxxxxx.compute-1.amazonaws.com] executing command ** [out :: ec2-
xxxxx.compute-1.amazonaws.com] (in /mnt/app/releases/ 20080516174113)
**
[out :: ec2-xxxxx.compute-1.amazonaws.com] rake aborted! **
[out :: ec2-xxxxx.compute-1.amazonaws.com] Access denied for user
'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES) **
[out :: ec2-xxxxx.compute-1.amazonaws.com] **
[out :: ec2-xxxxx.compute-1.amazonaws.com] (See full trace by running
task with --trace) command finished

I've checked my set up and advice from other threads and everything
seems to be in order. Additionally the incremental backup script is
failing with a similar error.

ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using
password: YES) /usr/local/ec2onrails/bin/../lib/utils.rb:5:in `run':
error: 256 (RuntimeError)
from /usr/local/ec2onrails/bin/../lib/mysql_helper.rb:52:in
`execute_sql'
from /usr/local/ec2onrails/bin/backup_app_db.rb:54

I can login to the mysql shell as root with no password.

I'm completely stumped would appreciate any advice.

Gordon