After college, Mahal moved to Los Angeles and formed the group Rising Sons with Ry Cooder in 1964. The group signed with Columbia Records and released one single and recorded another album which was not released by Columbia until 1992. Taj, frustrated with the mixed reaction to his music quit the group and went solo. Still with Columbia, he released a well received, self titled album in 1968, and based on its success released a second album, Natch'l Blues that same year. Two very different records - Giant Step, with his electric band, and solo De Ole Folks at Home - were released in 1969 together as a double album. This firmly established Taj as an American blues original. The double album The Real Thing, captured him live at this time, with a horn section.
He has received two Grammy awards in the category "Best Contemporary Blues Album", the first in 1997 for SeĂąor Blues, and again in 2000 for Shoutin' in Key. He has performed on various film soundtracks including Sounder and Blues Brothers 2000, in which he also appeared.
Ainât That a Lot of Love
Taj Mahal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like the ocean that started to roll, my love it could be coming to you
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
If the cook in the kitchen had a touch as hot as yours, it wouldn't need a fire
I can't think of a word that describes you better than indescribable
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
If the bees only knew how sweet you were, darling, they would shut up their honey comb
If the birds could hear how sweet your voice is, they'd pack up and fly away
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
Taj Mahal's song Ain't That a Lot of Love is a beautiful tribute to the overwhelming feelings one experiences when being in love. The opening line of the song, "I know the desert could hold all the love that I feel in my heart for you," serves as a metaphor for the vastness and expansiveness of the love that the singer feels. The desert, as we know, is a dry, barren area and for the singer to say that it can hold such intense love is significant. The subsequent lyric, "Just like the ocean that started to roll, my love it could be coming to you," further emphasizes the depth and magnitude of the love that he feels, comparing it to the ever-flowing and seemingly never-ending movement of the ocean.
The singer then contemplates the uniqueness of his love, singing "If the cook in the kitchen had a touch as hot as yours, it wouldn't need a fire. I can't think of a word that describes you better than indescribable." These lyrics not only suggest the overwhelming passion that the singer feels, but also serve as a testament to the fact that his love interest is one-of-a-kind, unmatchable and indescribable.
In the final verse of the song, Taj Mahal sings that the bees and the birds would be attracted to his loverâs sweetness if only they could understand. He imagines the bees wanting to stop producing honey and just keep her sweetness for themselves, while the birds would forsake their purpose to just listen to her sweet voice. This lyric speaks to the irresistible nature of love and how it can be captivating to all who encounter it.
Line by Line Meaning
I know the desert could hold all the love that i feel in my heart for you
My love for you is so vast and boundless, it could surpass even the vastness of a desert.
Just like the ocean that started to roll, my love it could be coming to you
My love for you is constantly growing and expanding, just like the waves of an ocean.
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
Isn't it overwhelming to think about how much love one heart can harbor?
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
Reiterating the vastness of my love and how it might be too much for just one heart to bear.
If the cook in the kitchen had a touch as hot as yours, it wouldn't need a fire
Comparing the passion and intensity of my love to the heat of a flame that could ignite even without fuel.
I can't think of a word that describes you better than indescribable
Your beauty and character are so unique and exceptional that words cannot do justice in describing them.
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
Reiterating the overwhelming magnitude of my love for you.
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
Reiterating the overwhelming magnitude of my love for you once again.
If the bees only knew how sweet you were, darling, they would shut up their honey comb
Comparing your sweetness to the honey that bees make and suggesting that even bees would be amazed by your sweetness.
If the birds could hear how sweet your voice is, they'd pack up and fly away
Suggesting that your voice is so sweet and melodic that even birds would be taken aback by it.
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
Reiterating the overwhelming magnitude of my love for you yet again.
Ain't that a lot of love for one heart to hold
Emphasizing that the amount of love I have for you is truly astounding and may even be too much for just one heart to handle.
Writer(s): Homer Banks, Willia Dean Parker
Contributed by Lila P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheRealForrestGeorge
You gotta dig it baby
Yes, yes, yes know the deserts couldn't hold all
the love that I have in my heart for you
If I could spread it out across the sea
you know my love would cover it all up
Ain't that a lot of love for two hearts to have and hold
Now if the cooks in the kitchen had a dress as tight yours,
they wouldn't need a fire
Ain't a word I could say just describe
your fine looks and loving desire
Ain't that a lot of love for two hearts to have and hold
Baby you got a smile, so rare
You got a kiss, so good
You got a hug, so nice
Whole lot of loving, baby, baby
Ain't that a lot of love for two hearts to have and hold
Now if the bees only knew how sweet your love was,
they'd pack up their honey comb
If the birds ever heard how sweet your voice was,
they'd pack up their song, yeah
Ain't that a lot of love for two hearts to have and hold
Ain't that a lot of love for two hearts to have and hold
Baby, ain't that kindness
Baby, ain't that a kindness
Woman, ain't that a kindness
Got to tell you that's all kindness
We got to get it together now
We got to get it all together
Baby, ain't that a whole lot of loving
Woman, ain't that a whole lot of loving
Baby, ain't that a loving
Baby, ain't that a kindness
Woman, ain't that a kindness
Woman, ain't that a kindness
Somebody, somebody tell me
Somebody, somebody tell me
Somebody, somebody please
Somebody, somebody tell me
Somebody, somebody please
Somebody, somebody somewhere
Somebody, somebody tell me
We got to have a lot of loving
Know the desert couldn't hold all the love that I have in my heart for you
If I could spread it out across the sea I know my love would cover it all up
Ain't that a lot of love for two hearts to have and hold
Ain't that a lot of love for two hearts to have and hold
Ain't that a lot of love for two hearts to have and hold
Ain't that a lot of love for two hearts to have and hold
@riffraff3658
Jesse Ed Davis. What a great guitar player. Wish he had been more recognized in his time. Highly respected by all of his peers
@theoriginalchefboyoboy6025
Mr Crisp and Clean...
@scottlee-benner6610
My thoughts exactly AND "where is JED in the credits of this video?" That AIN'T right. He sure tore it up on " Doctor My Eyes".
@JB-tr6nu
The right people noticed him like his lead on "Doctor my Eye's " Jackson Browne
@JB-tr6nu
@ironingboard man but the moment is now a good memory âđ˝
@resireg
You see him in George Harrison concert for Bangladesh.
@noelmajers6369
The thing I loved about the Rollings Stone's Rock and Roll Circus is that it featured some of the biggest names at the time and everybody played their hearts out. This perfomance by Taj Mahal (featuring Jeese Ed Davis) is no exception.
@myheroacademiaedits9822
My grandpa is Chuck Blackwell, the one playing the drums, I miss him sooooo much! At least he is in a better place now... đ
@ladtepes
that's so sweet
@stephengaydos4346
then I saw your grandpa @ the Fillmore East back in the last 60's/early 70's