Taj Mahal (born Henry Saint Clair Fredericks in New York City on May 17, 19… Read Full Bio ↴Taj Mahal (born Henry Saint Clair Fredericks in New York City on May 17, 1942) is an American Grammy Award-winning blues musician who incorporates elements of world music into his music. A self-taught singer, songwriter, and film composer who plays the guitar, banjo and harmonica (among many other instruments), Mahal has done much to reshape the definition and scope of blues music over the course of his 50 year career by fusing it with non-traditional forms, including sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and the South Pacific.

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 Señor 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.

Brown Girl In The Ring
Taj Mahal Lyrics

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There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
And she looks like a sugar in a plum plum plum

All had water run dry
I got nowhere to wash my clothes
All had water run dry
I got nowhere to wash my clothes

Deng-a-deng o suki
Deng-a-deng

I remember one Saturday night
We had fried fish and Johnny-cake
I remember one Saturday night
We had fried fish and Johnny-cake

Deng-a-deng o suki
Deng-a-deng

There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
And she looks like a sugar in a plum plum plum

There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
And she looks like a sugar in a plum plum plum

All had water run dry
I got nowhere to wash my clothes
All had water run dry
I got nowhere to wash my clothes

Deng-a-deng o suki
Deng-a-deng

I remember one Saturday night
We had fried fish and Johnny-cake
I remember one Saturday night
We had fried fish and Johnny-cake

Deng-a-deng o suki
Deng-a-deng

There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring

Tra la la la la
And she looks like a sugar in a plum plum plum

Overall Meaning

The song "Brown Girl in the Ring" by Taj Mahal sings about a brown girl who is playing a game where people are dancing around her. She is described as looking like a sugar in a plum. There are other lines where the singer talks about water running dry and having nowhere to wash his clothes. He remembers a Saturday night where they had fried fish and Johnny-cake. The lyrics are simple, but they seem to reflect the joy and ease of life that can be found even in challenging circumstances.

The song "Brown Girl in the Ring" was originally a traditional song from the Caribbean that became famous in North America and Europe through Boney M's cover in 1978. The song is associated with ring games traditionally played by children in Trinidad and Tobago. Taj Mahal recorded his version of the song in 1997 as part of his album "Sacred Island." The song has a blend of different musical genres including reggae, blues, and gospel.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a brown girl in the ring
The singer is observing a brown girl who is present at a gathering or event

Tra la la la la
The singer is expressing excitement and joy at the presence of the brown girl in the ring

And she looks like a sugar in a plum plum plum
The brown girl in the ring is very attractive and pleasing to look at, similar to the sweetness and appearance of sugar and plums

All had water run dry
The singer is experiencing a lack of resources, specifically water, making it difficult to maintain basic hygiene

I got nowhere to wash my clothes
The lack of water is preventing the singer from being able to wash their clothing

Deng-a-deng o suki
This line does not have a clear meaning, as it is simply a repetitive nonsense phrase used for rhythmic purposes

I remember one Saturday night
The singer is recalling a specific moment from the past

We had fried fish and Johnny-cake
The singer is reminiscing about a past meal that they enjoyed, featuring fried fish and Johnny-cake

Contributed by Nathan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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