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.

Cheatin' On You
Taj Mahal Lyrics

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It's the end to all my high jinx
It's the end to all my capers

Sort of a three way story
(the kind you read about in the sunday papers)

All I was gettin' over
Havin' both cakes and eatin' them too

But to my surprise,
My slice on the sun
Been eatin' the forbidden fruit

Refrain
Oh I've been cheatin' on you
I've been cheatin' on you
Been cheatin' on you with
Somebody's been cheatin' on me

Strophe
Thought I was a Jimmy Slick
(Yeah, I thought that)

Don't I was a Charlie Cool
(Thought that too)

But I'm just sad and stupid
(My friends call me Freddy Poo)

Ooh dooped, why don't you call me
Turn the dooper into the doop

I'm so surprised
To find my slice on the sun
Been eatin' the forbidden fruit.

Refrain
Oh, I've been cheatin' on you ...baby
I've been cheatin' on you
I've been cheatin' on you with
Somebody's been cheatin' on me

(Oh somebody say someting)

(Oh Yeah)

(Slow that guitar)

How co-co-co-co-coo ooh dooped
Why don't you call me
Turn the dooper into the doop
I'm so surprised
To find my slice on the sun
Been eatin' the forbidden fruit.

Oh I've been cheatin' on you
I've been cheatin' on you
I've been cheatin' on you with somebody's been cheatin' on me

Baby, baby, babe
Cheatin' on you ... ah ah ah
Cheatin' on you
I've been cheatin' on you with somebody's
Been cheatin' on me

Yeah Baby
Cheatin' on you with somebody's
Been cheatin' on me
Come, come, come, come, come on

Cheatin' on you with somebody's
Been cheatin' on me

Overall Meaning

The song "Cheatin' On You" by Taj Mahal is a sort of confession by the singer about his infidelity. The song starts with the singer acknowledging the consequences of his actions, that they mark the end of his reckless behavior and promiscuity. He admits that he had been enjoying the benefits of having two lovers while denying them the chance to know about each other, but he got caught up in a three-way story (like those told in Sunday papers) and realizes that he has been cheated on too.

The singer goes on to highlight his naivety about his status and the people around him. He thought he was slick and cool but realized that he was just sad and foolish. He uses the metaphor of being dooped and calls on the person he has been cheating on to turn the dooper into the doop. This means that he wants his lover to reverse the game and cheat on him to give him a dose of his medicine. Towards the end of the song, he repeats the confession of his infidelity and blames it on the fact that someone had been cheating on him too.

Overall, the song "Cheatin' On You" by Taj Mahal is a brilliant expression of human nature and its flaws. It captures the theme of infidelity and highlights the consequences one faces when they choose to live recklessly. The song also explores the idea that one can only cheat for so long before getting caught up in a situation where they are cheated on too.

Line by Line Meaning

It's the end to all my high jinx
My days of mischief and trouble-making are over

It's the end to all my capers
I can't engage in any more schemes or adventures

Sort of a three way story
This is a complicated situation involving multiple people

(the kind you read about in the sunday papers)
Like the sensational stories in the news

All I was gettin' over
I was trying to move on from something

Havin' both cakes and eatin' them too
Trying to have everything I want without any consequences

But to my surprise,
I was shocked to find out that

My slice on the sun
My significant other

Been eatin' the forbidden fruit
Has been engaging in an illicit affair

Oh I've been cheatin' on you
I confess that I have been unfaithful to you

Been cheatin' on you with
I have been having an affair with