Taylor was born as Cora Walton on a farm just outside Memphis, Tennessee. In 1954, Taylor left Memphis for Chicago with her husband, truck driver Robert "Pops" Taylor. In the late 1950s she began singing in Chicago blues clubs and was spotted by Willie Dixon in 1962, leading to wider performances and her first recording contract. In 1965, Taylor was signed by Chess Records, for which her single Wang Dang Doodle (written by Dixon, and a hit for Howlin' Wolf five years earlier) became a major hit, reaching number four on the R&B charts in 1966 and selling a million copies. Taylor recorded many versions of this Dixon-penned song over the past several decades and added more material, both original and covers, but never repeated that initial chart success.
National touring in the late 1960s and early 1970s improved her fan base, and she became accessible to a wider record-buying public when she signed with Alligator Records in 1975. Recording over a dozen albums for that label (many nominated for Grammy awards), she came to dominate the female blues singer ranks, winning 24 W. C. Handy Awards -- more than any other artist. After her recovery from a near-fatal car crash in 1989, the 1990s found Taylor in movies such as Blues Brothers 2000. She opened a blues club on Division St. in Chicago in 1994, but closed it in 1999. Taylor released a new album in 2007 called "Old School."
Koko Taylor influenced such musicians as Bonnie Raitt, Shemekia Copeland, Janis Joplin, Shannon Curfman, and Susan Tedeschi.
Koko Taylor died on the afternoon of June 3rd 2009 (at the age of 80), while recovering from surgery to repair gastrointestinal bleeding. Koko Taylor is still referred to by fellow blues musicians and her fans as the "Queen of the Blues".
Bring Me
Koko Taylor Lyrics
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All in love ain't fair
I turn the other cheek, baby
I learned to slap and the stink of the foul night air
I know, you're only human but I don't have talking room
Tonight while you're makin' excuses
Some other woman is makin' love
Somebody bring me some water
I'm burnin' up alive
My baby's got another lover
Don't know how I'll survive
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see it's out of control?
Got my heart, got my mind
But tonight sweet devil, sweet devil's got my soul
When will this aching pass?
When will the night be through?
I hear the breakin' glass
I only feel the steel of the red hot truth
I'd do anything, get you off of my mind
I need some insanity that temporary kind
Tell me how I ever be the same
I know that woman is somewhere whisperin'
That other woman somewhere whisperin' your name
Somebody bring me some water
I'm burnin' up alive
My baby's got another lover
Don't know how I'll survive
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see, it's out of control?
Got my heart, got my mind
But tonight the sweet devil, sweet devil's got my soul
Somebody bring me some water
I'm burnin' up alive
My baby's got another lover
How am I gonna survive?
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see, it's out of control?
Got my heart, got my mind
But tonight sweet devil, sweet devil's got my soul
Hey, hey, hey
He got my soul, he got my heart
He got my mind, he got my soul
Oh sweet devil, c'mon devil
[Incomprehensible], you devil, you devil, you devil
Oh sweet devil
The song "Bring Me Some Water" by Koko Taylor tells the story of a woman who has been cheated on by her lover. She is feeling lonely, hurt, and angry about her partner's infidelity, and is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is with someone else. The lyrics convey the pain and turmoil she is experiencing, with lines like "I'm burning up alive" and "tonight sweet devil's got my soul." The chorus repeats the phrase "somebody bring me some water," which serves as a metaphor for her need to quench the burning thirst she feels for her lover's attention and affection.
One interesting aspect of the song is its powerful vocal delivery by Koko Taylor, known as the "Queen of the Blues." Taylor's gritty, soulful voice conveys the pain and raw emotion of the lyrics, making the listener feel the same sense of heartbreak and desperation as the singer of the song. Another notable feature is the use of blues rock instrumentation, including electric guitar riffs and a driving drum groove. This gives the song a sense of energy and urgency that builds throughout the track.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight I feel so lonely
I'm feeling very lonely tonight
All in love ain't fair
Love isn't always fair
I turn the other cheek, baby
I forgive easily
I learned to slap and the stink of the foul night air
But I'm also willing to fight back when necessary
I know, you're only human but I don't have talking room
I understand you're human, but I don't want to hear your excuses
Tonight while you're makin' excuses
You're making excuses right now
Some other woman is makin' love
While you're lying to me, someone else is sleeping with you
Somebody bring me some water
I need someone to help me through this pain
I'm burnin' up alive
I'm in so much pain I feel like I'm on fire
My baby's got another lover
My partner is cheating on me
Don't know how I'll survive
I don't know how I'll make it through this
Can't you see it's out of control?
This situation is out of control
Got my heart, got my mind
This situation has taken over my thoughts and emotions
But tonight the sweet devil, sweet devil's got my soul
I feel like I'm completely under the control of my partner, who's like a devil to me
When will this aching pass?
When will this pain go away?
When will the night be through?
When will this night finally end?
I hear the breakin' glass
I'm hearing signs of violence
I only feel the steel of the red hot truth
I only feel the harsh truth of what's happening
I'd do anything, get you off of my mind
I want to do anything to stop thinking about you
I need some insanity that temporary kind
I need some temporary release or distraction from this pain, even if it's insane
Tell me how I ever be the same
I'm wondering how I could ever be the same after this
I know that woman is somewhere whisperin'
I know there's another woman you're seeing
That other woman somewhere whisperin' your name
She's even whispering your name
He got my soul, he got my heart
My partner has taken control of me emotionally
Oh sweet devil, c'mon devil
Addressing my partner as a devil
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tom Smith
As great as this Koko's song is, I was researching "Who is playing that guitar?!?!?!" Kenny Wayne Shepherd! Makes complete sense. A great choice, and he really makes it his own. Ever since Blue on Black, been a huge KWS fan.
Roberto Pizzo
At min. 3,18 drum&bass killer!!!
Kiro Burno
I had no idea she sang this long before Melissa Ethridge did. Wow nice
Erica P
No, this is a cover of Melissa's song that Koko released in 2000. Melissa wrote and recorded the song in 1988 :)