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".
Mother Nature
Koko Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mother nature's back in town
I'm here to take care of business
Ain't got time to fool around
I'm looking for my man ya'll
I'm serious as a heart attack
Now one a-you women stole him
And I'm here to get him back
Don't mess with mother nature
Cause you'll be sorry if you do
I'll rain on your parade
And I'll stomp all over you
I got up early early this morning
I had lovin on my mind
Would have found me someone else
But I'm not the cheating kind
So I'm giving you fair warning
Every word I say is true
If you've got my man turn him loose
If you know what's good for you
Don't mess with mother nature
You'll be sorry if you do
I'll rain on your parade
And I'll stomp all over you
I'm just about through talking
I've said all I have to say
And if you think I'm bluffing
Go ahead and make my day
I'll be on you like a lightning
I've got thunder in my hand
I'll do whatever it takes
But I'm being the best I can
Don't mess with mother nature
You'll be sorry if you do
I'll rain on your parade
And I'll stomp all over you
The song "Mother Nature" by Koko Taylor is a feisty and powerful anthem about the strength of women and the wrath of nature. In this song, Taylor takes on the persona of Mother Nature herself, threatening anyone who dares to cross her path. The song opens with Taylor announcing that Mother Nature is back in town and ready to take care of business. She's not playing around and is looking for her man who has been stolen by another woman. The lyrics are a warning to anyone who tries to mess with Mother Nature, emphasizing the power and force behind her actions.
Taylor's lyrics in "Mother Nature" can be interpreted in several ways. On one level, it's about Mother Nature's destructive power and how she can wreak havoc on those who don't respect her. On another level, the song is about women asserting their independence and strength. By taking on the persona of Mother Nature, Taylor is insinuating that women are as powerful as nature itself and should be respected and feared just as much. The imagery of thunder and lightning in the lyrics underscores this idea, emphasizing the explosive nature of women's power.
In summary, "Mother Nature" is a song that celebrates the power and strength of women, using the metaphor of nature to drive this message home. It's a declaration of independence and a warning to all those who would dare to cross Mother Nature or any woman who represents her.
Line by Line Meaning
I say hey hey ya'll
I am announcing my presence and getting your attention.
Mother nature's back in town
I am here, as a force of nature, ready to take control of the situation.
I'm here to take care of business
I have a purpose and a mission to accomplish.
Ain't got time to fool around
I am serious and focused on my goal, and won't be distracted.
I'm looking for my man ya'll
I have a personal stake in this, as I am looking for my partner who has been taken from me.
I'm serious as a heart attack
I am not to be taken lightly, as I am fully committed to my objective.
Now one a-you women stole him
I know exactly who has taken him, and I am ready to confront them.
And I'm here to get him back
My goal is to retrieve my partner and restore our relationship.
Don't mess with mother nature
I am using my powerful persona to warn others to stay out of my way.
Cause you'll be sorry if you do
I have the ability to wreak havoc and punish those who oppose me.
I'll rain on your parade
I have control over the natural elements and can use them to disrupt your plans.
And I'll stomp all over you
I am not afraid to use force and aggression to assert my dominance.
I got up early early this morning
I am so motivated that I woke up before everyone else to start working on my mission.
I had lovin on my mind
Although my mission is serious, I still have my personal desires and needs.
Would have found me someone else
If my partner had not been taken, I would have been interested in finding another lover.
But I'm not the cheating kind
Even though my partner has been taken, I am not willing to compromise my values or integrity.
So I'm giving you fair warning
I am communicating clearly and honestly what I plan to do if my demands are not met.
Every word I say is true
I mean business, and everything I say should be taken seriously.
If you've got my man turn him loose
I am making a direct demand for my partner to be returned to me.
If you know what's good for you
I am emphasizing the consequences of not complying with my demands.
I'm just about through talking
I have communicated everything I need to say and am ready to take action.
I've said all I have to say
I have been clear and direct in my communication and expect others to heed my warning.
And if you think I'm bluffing
I am confident in my abilities and am daring others to test me.
Go ahead and make my day
I am ready to take on any challenge or obstacle that comes my way.
I'll be on you like a lightning
I move quickly, decisively, and with great force.
I've got thunder in my hand
I have the power and control to make things happen as I see fit.
I'll do whatever it takes
I am willing to use whatever means necessary to achieve my goal.
But I'm being the best I can
I am operating at my highest capacity and giving this mission my all.
Contributed by Maya T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.