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.
Feets Don't Fail Me Now
Taj Mahal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your momma says keep away
I got to tell you truthful girl, you can never make me stay
I got something up and down the coast
I bet you my last dollar girl, I can love your love the most
Don't the sunrise look so pretty?
Never such a sight
With the skyline in the morning light
Roll right through the night
Roll right through the night
Semi smoking mama, you got to give me some
I heard you got the biggest, biggest truck in town
Right on through to Baltimore, you got to love me now
Do it to me gently, feets don't fail me now
Feets don't fail me now
Don't the sunrise look so pretty?
Never such a sight
Like rolling into New York City
With the skyline in the morning light
Roll right through the night
Roll right through the night
Roll right through the night
Roll right through the night
In "Feets Don't Fail Me Now," Taj Mahal sings about being warned by the girl's parents to stay away from her. However, he tells her that no matter what they say, she can never make him stay away from her because he has something special that he can offer her that no one else can. He declares that he can love her love the most, and he believes it so strongly that he even bets his last dollar on it. He then goes on to describe the beauty of watching the sunrise while traveling through the city in the morning light, and how important it is for him to keep moving and not let his "feet fail him now." In the final lines of the song, he makes a plea to the girl, asking her to give herself to him intimately, while still expressing his need to keep moving.
The lyrics of "Feets Don't Fail Me Now" seem to be a reflection of Taj Mahal's own restless spirit, as he was known for constantly traveling and drawing inspiration from the many different musical traditions he encountered during his journeys. Throughout the song, he emphasizes the importance of movement and momentum, both in his romantic pursuits and in his life as a musician.
Line by Line Meaning
Your daddy says I'm no good
Your father is not happy with me as he thinks I'm not good enough for you.
Your momma says keep away
Your mother is warning you to stay away from me for some reason.
I got to tell you truthful girl, you can never make me stay
I have to be honest with you, no matter how much you try, you cannot make me stay.
I got something up and down the coast
I have something or the other going on throughout the coastline.
I bet you my last dollar girl, I can love your love the most
I'm confident that I can love you better than anyone else.
Don't the sunrise look so pretty?
Isn't the sunrise such a beautiful sight?
Never such a sight
I have never seen anything so beautiful before.
Like rolling into New York City
It feels like driving into New York City.
With the skyline in the morning light
And seeing the beautiful skyscrapers in the morning light.
Roll right through the night
Keep on driving through the night.
Semi smoking mama, you got to give me some
Hey woman driving the big rig, you need to give me something.
I heard you got the biggest, biggest truck in town
I have heard that you have the biggest truck in the whole town.
Right on through to Baltimore, you got to love me now
All the way to Baltimore, you need to love me now.
Do it to me gently, feets don't fail me now
Please do it gently and don't let my feet fail me now.
Roll right through the night
Keep on driving through the night.
Roll right through the night
Keep on driving through the night.
Roll right through the night
Keep on driving through the night.
Roll right through the night
Keep on driving through the night.
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.