Coen has been touring the U.S. since his teens, often as a solo acoustic guitar and vocal act during the quieter weekdays, then accompanied by bass and drums performing hard blues with an electric trio on weekends. Davis commonly plays at clubs, bars, and festivals throughout the Southeast and mid-south, being out of Charleston, South Carolina. He has also enjoyed a dozen tours of Europe, promoting his 6 album releases, Cryin the Blues '95, Blues From the Get-go '99, Can't Get There From Here '06, & Ill Disposition '07, Blues Lights For Yours And Mine '08, and Magnolia Land '09.
He has shared a bill or opened for many classic blues artists such as James Cotton, Junior Wells, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Big Jack Johnson, T-Model Ford, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Eddie Kirkland, Earl King, Nappy Brown, and John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. He has also shared bills with such non-blues performers as Richie Havens, Mountain, Eric Burdon, Branford Marsalis, Kool & The Gang, Tito Puente and Toots & The Maytals.
These past two years Davis has played at a clean-up kickoffs in Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi for Katrina victims, performing before the Mayor of both Cities and was honored with an achievement award for his conglomerate MS Coast relief efforts.
Mambo Jumbo
Davis Coen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't wanna hear the mambo jumbo X2
The mambo jumbo, yeah yeah yeah
Make me wanna rumble
When I get home from my work
Gotta hear that mumbo jumbo
When I ask you where you've been
The mambo jumbo, yeah yeah yeah
Make me wanna rumble
Well I say "what happen to my car?"
... the mambo jumbo
When I ask you "who you seen?"
... the mambo jumbo
The mambo jumbo... yeahhhh
Make me wanna rumble
(Guitar solo)
Took the jet plane around the world
Gotta hear that mambo jumbo
I was in a tavern in Ko-rea
Hearin' the mambo jumbo
The mambo jumbo, yeaaah
Make me wanna rumble
I was down at Sam's pool hall
Hearin' the mambo jumbo
Couldn't get but one foot through the door
I can hear my baby doin' the mambo jumbo
The mambo jumbo, whooooo
Make me wanna rumble
The lyrics to Davis Coen's song Mambo Jumbo are about the frustration and anger caused by the non-specific explanations or excuses given by a partner when confronted about their whereabouts or activities. The singer of the song is tired of hearing the "mambo jumbo" or "mumbo jumbo" from his partner and it makes him feel like fighting. He is specifically frustrated when he comes home early in the morning and is met with the "mambo jumbo" instead of a straightforward answer. He also recounts a time when he couldn't get into a pool hall because he could hear his partner doing the "mambo jumbo" inside.
Overall, the lyrics explore the common relationship dynamic where one partner is suspicious and the other partner is evasive or unclear. It highlights the frustration and conflict that can arise when trust is broken and communication breaks down.
Line by Line Meaning
When I come home early in the morning
When I return back home early in the morning
Don't wanna hear the mambo jumbo X2
Don't want to listen to any nonsense or lies
The mambo jumbo, yeah yeah yeah
Refers to the nonsensical, unclear explanations and lies
Make me wanna rumble
Makes me angry
When I get home from my work
After finishing work and returning home
Gotta hear that mumbo jumbo
Have to listen to nonsense or unclear statements
When I ask you where you've been
When I inquire about your whereabouts
It's all mumbo jumbo
The response is vague and unclear
Well I say "what happen to my car?"
I ask about the condition of my car
... the mambo jumbo
The response is unclear and nonsensical
When I ask you "who you seen?"
When I ask who you have met or been with
... the mambo jumbo
The answer is evasive or nonsensical
Took the jet plane around the world
Flew across the world in a jet plane
Gotta hear that mambo jumbo
Had to listen to meaningless chatter
I was in a tavern in Ko-rea
I visited a pub or bar in Korea
Hearin' the mambo jumbo
Listening to the nonsensical talk
I was down at Sam's pool hall
I was at Sam's billiard room
Hearin' the mambo jumbo
Listening to idle gossip or deceptive conversation
Make me wanna rumble
It all makes me angry and ready for a fight
Contributed by Dominic G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.