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.
Clara "St. Kitts Woman"
Taj Mahal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
She would come to our house and make on the stove some of those peppermint patties
Putting sugar in our beer call it tay-la-sang tooley why-a-cake-it from me
You know that my Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
She would hold you, love you, and scold you,
making sure she told you everything she could feel
deep down in my Soul
make me think back to my ancestors
who lived a long time ago
who lived a long time ago
When I feel that spirit
deep down in my Soul
make me think of some ancestors
who lived a long time ago
ruled the world and all its gold
For that my Grandfather married one St. Kitts woman
My Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
She would come lifting with her voice to the house
making peppermint patties
taking toknit put some sugar in I beer lie lutill juna taki from me
You know that my Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
She would hold you, love you, and scold you,
making sure she told you they will never know what it is you need
When you here that Spirit
chuck it to me chuck it
moving in your Soul
its a message from an ancestor who lived a long time ago
ruled the world and all its gold
I say when you feel that Spirit child
moving in your Soul
its a message from an ancestor who lived a long time ago
The lyrics to Taj Mahal's song "Clara St. Kitts Woman" are a tribute to the singer's grandmother, who was from the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. The opening lines reveal that Taj Mahal's grandfather married the subject of the song, suggesting that his grandmother was not only a significant person in his life but also a symbol of his heritage. The lyrics go on to describe the impact that this woman had on Taj Mahal and his family. She would make peppermint patties on the stove and add sugar to beer, which she called "tay-la-sang tooley why-a-cake-it." These details demonstrate her cultural influence on her family and the way that her presence brought joy and nourishment into their lives.
The song also suggests that Taj Mahal feels a spiritual connection to his ancestors who came before him. He speaks of feeling a "Spirit deep down in [his] Soul" that makes him think back to those who lived a long time ago and "ruled the world and all its gold." This connection to his heritage is not just a familial one but a cultural and historical one as well. The song ends by repeating the chorus and encouraging listeners to feel that same spirit within themselves and recognize that it is a message from their ancestors.
Line by Line Meaning
My Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
My Grandfather married a woman from St. Kitts who was remarkable
My Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
My Grandfather married a woman from St. Kitts who was remarkable
She would come to our house and make on the stove some of those peppermint patties
She would come and cook peppermint patties for us in our kitchen
Putting sugar in our beer call it tay-la-sang tooley why-a-cake-it from me
She would add sugar to our beer which we called tay-la-sang and say why-a-cake-it to me
You know that my Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
You know that my Grandfather married a woman from St. Kitts who was remarkable
She would hold you, love you, and scold you, making sure she told you everything she could feel
She would love and scold you, and make sure to convey all her emotions
And now I feel that Spirit
deep down in my Soul
make me think back to my ancestors
who lived a long time ago
who lived a long time ago
I feel the spirit deep within me and it reminds me of my ancestors who lived in the past
When I feel that spirit
deep down in my Soul
make me think of some ancestors
who lived a long time ago
ruled the world and all its gold
When I feel the spirit, I think of my ancestors who were powerful and ruled the world with all its wealth
For that my Grandfather married one St. Kitts woman
My Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
She would come lifting with her voice to the house
making peppermint patties
taking toknit put some sugar in I beer lie lutill juna taki from me
My Grandfather married a remarkable woman from St. Kitts who would come to the house and make peppermint patties and add sugar to our beer
You know that my Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
She would hold you, love you, and scold you,
making sure she told you they will never know what it is you need
You know my Grandfather married a remarkable woman who would love, scold and ensure to convey what exactly you need
When you here that Spirit
chuck it to me chuck it
moving in your Soul
its a message from an ancestor who lived a long time ago
ruled the world and all its gold
When you feel the spirit, it's a message from an ancestor who lived in the past and ruled the world with its wealth
I say when you feel that Spirit child
moving in your Soul
its a message from an ancestor who lived a long time ago
I say when you feel the spirit, it's a message from an ancestor who lived in the past
Contributed by Ian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@botellajuan
My Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
My Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
She would come to our house and make on the stove some of those peppermint patties
Putting sugar in our beer call it tay-la-sang tooley why-a-cake-it from me
You know that my Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
She would hold you, love you, and scold you
Making sure she told you everything she could feel
And now I feel that Spirit
Deep down in my Soul
Make me think back to my ancestors
Who lived a long time ago
Who lived a long time ago
When I feel that spirit
Deep down in my Soul
Make me think of some ancestors
Who lived a long time ago
Ruled the world and all its gold
For that my Grandfather married one St. Kitts woman
My Grandfather married one fine St. Kitts woman
She would come lifting with her voice to the house
Making peppermint patties
Taking toknit put some sugar in I beer lie lutill juna taki from me
@ginagray8040
I fell in love with this song years ago. It’s one of those songs that can’t be described with words. It’s goes beyond the bounds of generations. You just feel it with your soul.
@rolandosarabia810
I had the great pleasure of seeing Taj Mahal 3 times, live. In small venues. The guy is an encyclopedia of folk music. Not only from the USA but the Caribbean and many other parts of the World 🌍
@mpjproducer
my brother and I would play this over and over and over - we loved this jewel from my mother's vast and diverse record collection
@robinturner9877
found this in a junk shop in1974.Particularly liked this song.It kinda stuck in my head,so much so that I incorporated it into my own set when I did gigs.I don't know what happened to my album collection but I;m delighted to have come across this gem on youtube.
@FL8mileshigh1
Always loved this one by Taj. Great lyrics. One of his best. "When you here that Spirit chuck it to me chuck it moving in your Soul it's a message from an ancestor who lived a long time ago ruled the world and all its gold I say when you feel that Spirit child moving in your Soul its a message from an ancestor who lived a long time ago"
@RudraChakarin_Krshna_Dharmik
Maha Raja Bali ??
@ArkyMalarkey
God bless grandmothers and God bless Taj Mahal.
@eagerroofing1505
thank you Charle brown You will be missed dearly
@terrencemarble5582
I remember when this album was released. At that time we were lucky to have WABX in Detroit, that would play ANYTHING! They exposed us to music you wouldn't normally hear, let alone love!
@leecoulter6457
goose f######ng bumps,I have not heard this album for 20 years or so,surely one of the all time greatest albums EVER,chooooooonchooooon...