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.

Eighteen Hammers
Taj Mahal Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wish that I was eighteen,
To do all the things,
You read in a magazine,
I'm not saying I want to be Charlie Sheen.

She's just a little bit older but,
I want to get to know her,
And she said it's already over

So tell me what else can I do?
I bought my fake ID for you.

She told me to meet her there,
I can't afford the bus fare,
I'm not old enough for her,
I'm just waiting 'till I'm eighteen.

I think she wants to get with me,
But she's got a job in the city,
Says that she's always too busy.

She's got a naughty tattoo,
In a place that I want to get to,
But my mom still drives me to school.

So tell me what else can I do?
I bought my fake ID for you.

She told me to meet her there,
I can't afford the bus fare,
I'm not old enough for her,
I'm just waiting 'till I'm eighteen.

You got me waiting in a queue,
For a bar I can't get in to,
I'm not old enough for you,
I'm just waiting 'till I'm eighteen.

In my bedroom thinking of her,
Your pictures in my private folder,
I know one day that I will hold her,
I'll make my move when I get older.

She told me to meet her there,
I can't afford the bus fare,
I'm not old enough for her,
I'm just waiting till I'm eighteen

You got me waiting in a queue,
For a bar I can't get in to,
I'm not old enough for you,

I'm just waiting 'till I'm eighteen
I'm so sick of waiting till I'm eighteen.

Overall Meaning

The song "Eighteen Hammers" by Taj Mahal is a story about a young boy who is infatuated with an older woman. He wishes he was eighteen so he could do all the things that he reads about in magazines. Despite being too young for her, he wants to get to know her and is even willing to buy a fake ID. The woman is interested in him, but has a job in the city and is always too busy. The boy dreams of being with her, but is still waiting until he's old enough to make his move.

The lyrics speak to the universal experience of young love and the desire for something that seems out of reach. The boy's anticipation and longing is palpable in lines like "I think she wants to get with me, but she's got a job in the city, says that she's always too busy." The song is also relatable in its exploration of the power dynamics inherent in age differences in relationships. The boy is at a disadvantage because he is too young, and has to wait until he's older to be with the woman he desires.

Overall, "Eighteen Hammers" is a catchy and relatable song about young love, desire, and the waiting game that often comes with it.

Line by Line Meaning

I wish that I was eighteen,
I long to be an adult in order to experience everything I read about in magazines.

To do all the things,
I want to experience every little thing that life as an adult would offer.

You read in a magazine,
I am constantly bombarded with images and stories of wild and exciting adult experiences.

I'm not saying I want to be Charlie Sheen.
I want to be mature and experience life, without going down the troubled path that Charlie Sheen has gone down.

She's just a little bit older but,
The person I am interested in is slightly older than me.

I want to get to know her,
I am intrigued and attracted to this person and desire to build a connection with her.

And she said it's already over
The person I am interested in has communicated that our interaction is already over.

So tell me what else can I do?
I am at a loss for what to do next to pursue this person I am interested in.

I bought my fake ID for you.
I acquired false identification in order to try to appear like an adult and gain access to places and experiences beyond my age range for this person I am interested in.

She told me to meet her there,
The person I am interested in proposed to meet in a particular place.

I can't afford the bus fare,
I do not have the financial means to travel to the meeting place.

I'm not old enough for her,
I am not yet of an age that would make me an ideal romantic partner for this person I am interested in.

I'm just waiting 'till I'm eighteen.
I will wait until I am old enough to pursue this person without issue.

I think she wants to get with me,
I believe that the person I am interested in reciprocates my feelings.

But she's got a job in the city,
The person I am interested in works in the city, adding an additional layer of distance and complication to our situation.

Says that she's always too busy.
The person I am interested in conveyed that they are too preoccupied to engage in a relationship or interaction with me.

She's got a naughty tattoo,
The person I am interested in has a tattoo on an intimate part of their body.

In a place that I want to get to,
The person I am interested in has a tattoo in a location that I am particularly attracted to.

But my mom still drives me to school.
Despite my desire for adult experiences, I am still reliant on my mother for basic transportation needs.

You got me waiting in a queue,
I am waiting in line to gain entry to a venue or event.

For a bar I can't get in to,
The venue I am in line for has an age minimum that I do not meet, thereby barring me from entry.

I'm not old enough for you,
I recognize that I am not yet of an age that would make me a suitable match or romantic partner for the person I am interested in.

I'm just waiting 'till I'm eighteen.
I will patiently wait until I am old enough to pursue a relationship with this person without encountering barriers.

In my bedroom thinking of her,
I spend a great deal of time in my private space daydreaming about the person I am interested in.

Your pictures in my private folder,
I have stored images of the person I am interested in in a private folder on my computer or phone.

I know one day that I will hold her,
I am certain that I will eventually be able to hold and be with the person I am interested in.

I'll make my move when I get older.
I recognize that my current age and circumstances limit my ability to pursue this person in any meaningful way, and plan to wait until I am older.

I'm so sick of waiting till I'm eighteen.
While waiting for the opportunity to pursue the person I am interested in, I have grown rather impatient and discontent with my current limitations.

Writer(s): TAJ MAHAL

Contributed by Christian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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