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.
Diving Duck Blues
Taj Mahal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would be a diving duck
If the river was whiskey
I would be a diving duck
I would swim to the bottom, but I would drink my way up
If you were a good woman
I would never have to roam
I would never have to roam
I'd give up drinking whiskey and I would always stay at home
River go to the ocean, ocean go to the sea
Why you ain't no good woman
A mystery to me
River go to the ocean, ocean go to the sea
And like a fish has got to swim, you've got to make a fool out of me
If the river was whiskey
I would be a diving duck
If the river was whiskey
I would be a diving duck
I would swim to the bottom, but I would drink my way up
The lyrics of Taj Mahal's song "Diving Duck Blues" depict a man who longs for a better life but is stuck in a cycle of drinking and wandering. The central metaphor compares the man's desire to escape his troubles to that of a diving duck in a river of whiskey. The image of a diving duck serves to emphasize the man's ability to navigate the murky waters of life, as well as his tendency to rely on alcohol to cope with his problems. The contrast of the river of whiskey with the ocean and the sea suggests that the man feels he is trapped in a small, limited world, unable to escape his personal struggles.
Furthermore, the lyrics also suggest a sense of lamentation and perhaps resentment towards women. The lyrics of the second verse express a desire for a 'good woman' that would help the man overcome his drinking and wandering, and secure him to remain at home. The lines that follow, however, suggest a certain level of anger towards women, as the man questions why they continue to make 'a fool out of him'. The reference to fish swimming in the ocean and sea suggests that the man sees women as a force of nature, and is resigned to his inability to control or understand them.
Line by Line Meaning
If the river was whiskey
If the river had whiskey in it
I would be a diving duck
I would dive into it without any fear
If the river was whiskey
If the river had whiskey in it
I would be a diving duck
I would jump into it joyfully
I would swim to the bottom, but I would drink my way up
I would go to the bottom of the river and drink the whiskey on my way up
If you were a good woman
If you were a faithful partner
I would never have to roam
I would not have to wander and search for love elsewhere
If you were a good woman
If you were a true love
I would give up drinking whiskey and I would always stay at home
I would stop drinking and stay home with you forever
River go to the ocean, ocean go to the sea
River flows into the ocean, and the ocean flows into the sea
Why you ain't no good woman
Why aren't you a loyal partner?
A mystery to me
I do not understand why you are not faithful to me
River go to the ocean, ocean go to the sea
River flows into the ocean, and the ocean flows into the sea
And like a fish has got to swim, you've got to make a fool out of me
Just like how a fish has to swim in the water, you continue to deceive me and make me look like a fool
If the river was whiskey
If the river had whiskey in it
I would be a diving duck
I would jump into it with pure enthusiasm
If the river was whiskey
If the river had whiskey in it
I would swim to the bottom, but I would drink my way up
I would dive into the whiskey-filled river and drink my way back up to the surface.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN ESTES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bartrobertson8444
There the real deal. They keep the craft of traditional blues alive and all the great souls that invented this masterful simplicity of emotion.
@tonyb1063
just saw Taj in September and at 81 he's still got it. he's gotta get in the rock and roll hall of fame
@jamesvaughan-evans4055
F the rock and roll Hall of Fame
@Two4Brew
@tonyb1063 One of my friends from the old neighborhood went to see Taj at the House of Blues in Orlando a few years back. Paul paid extra for the Meet and Greet.
When he got to meet Taj, Paul explained that he was one of her Kindergarteners (we were in class together). Taj stood up and gave him a hug. He told Paul how much his mom talked about her kids and the old neighborhood. She taught K and 1st for over 30 years.
I'm 67 today, and actually still have friends from Nursery school.
@wespuckdog3897
I'm so old that I used to listen to these two when they were young men, now they're my age when I first started listening to them, what a short movie it's been!
@daleleavitt
Ha. I feel your (and mine) pain.
@DaxxTerryGreen
Right on friend. Life is short brother . . . . . .
@Stellwoodblues
Hope its been a good one brother
@erikmaki8642
The road could have been better, but at least now - in return - we start to understand the meaning and the real value of it.
@lorirees21
💗💜💗