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.
Follow The Drinking Gourd
Taj Mahal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the first quail calls
Follow the drinking gourd,
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd
The riverbank makes a very good road.
The dead trees will show you the way.
Follow the drinking gourd.
The river ends between two hills
Follow the drinking gourd.
There’s another river on the other side
Follow the drinking gourd.
When the great big river meets the little river
Follow the drinking gourd.
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd.
Taj Mahal's song Follow the Drinking Gourd is a folk song that narrates the story of how the Underground Railroad helped slaves escape from southern plantations to northern states and Canada for freedom. The song includes hidden and symbolic clues that communicated messages from slaves to each other about how they should move through the Underground Railroad.
The lyrics of the song provide instructions for slaves who want to escape to freedom. The "drinking gourd" mentioned in the song is the slave code name for the Big Dipper constellation, which would guide escaping slaves north towards freedom. The first two lines of the song - "When the Sun comes back And the first quail calls" - indicate that slaves should start their journey in the late winter or early spring. This is because the Big Dipper is visible in the night sky during this period, and the first quail calls also signal this time of year.
The song also includes directions for the best path to take. The riverbank is mentioned as a good meandering path to follow, and dead trees will show the way. Peg leg is mentioned as one way to move one's foot to confuse slave catchers on the trail. The song concludes with the old man waiting when the large river meets the little river. Thus, the song gives clear instructions for escaping slaves to a path that will eventually lead to freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
When the Sun comes back
When the sun rises again
And the first quail calls
And the first bird sings
Follow the drinking gourd,
Follow the path along the river
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
Because an old man is waiting to help you escape to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd
If you follow the path along the river
The riverbank makes a very good road.
The riverbank is a good path to follow.
The dead trees will show you the way.
The dead trees will point you in the right direction.
Left foot, peg foot, traveling on,
Walk on, using your left foot and peg foot if necessary.
Follow the drinking gourd.
Follow the path along the river.
The river ends between two hills
The river stops between two hills.
Follow the drinking gourd.
Follow the path along the river.
There’s another river on the other side
There is another river on the other side of the hills.
Follow the drinking gourd.
Follow the path along the river.
When the great big river meets the little river
When the big river joins the small river.
Follow the drinking gourd.
Follow the path along the river.
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry to freedom
Because an old man is waiting to help you escape to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd.
If you follow the path along the river.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JORMA KAUKONEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind