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.
Going To The River
Taj Mahal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna jump overboard and drown
I'm goin' to the river,
Gonna jump overboard and drown
Because the girl I love
She just done let me down
Now when she left me,
When she left me,
I bowed my head and cried
I never thought I would be,
I would be the one to cry
If you see my mama,
Tell her good-bye for me
If you see my mama,
Tell her good-bye for me
I'm tired of livin'
Livin' in misery
If you see my mama,
Tell her good-bye for me
If you see my mama,
Tell her good -bye for me
Ya know I'm tired of livin'
Livin' in misery
The lyrics of Taj Mahal's song 'Going To The River' depict a man drowning his sorrows in the river because of the heartbreak inflicted upon him by the girl he loves. The hopelessness of his heartbreak is expressed in the repetition of the opening line "I'm goin' to the river." The man has lost all hope and sees no point in continuing to live in misery, hence the decision to end his life. He acknowledges that he never thought he would cry, but the pain of his love's departure has broken him. Through his words, we can sense his desperation and the deep sadness that he feels.
The man's last message is to tell his mother goodbye for him, indicating perhaps that he has given up not only on his love but also on the rest of his life. It is a poignant message that expresses his disillusionment with the world and his desire to escape from it. In this song, Taj Mahal portrays the desperation of the man who has lost everything he finds valuable.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm goin' to the river,
I am heading towards the river
Gonna jump overboard and drown
I will jump from the board into the river to drown
Because the girl I love
The reason behind my decision is the girl I love
She just done let me down
As she disappointed me, I am feeling heartbroken and let down
Now when she left me,
When my beloved left me
I bowed my head and cried
I couldn't hold back my tears and bowed my head in grief
I never thought I would be,
I never imagined that I would endure
I would be the one to cry
I would cry due to someone's departure
If you see my mama,
If you happen to meet my mother
Tell her good-bye for me
Say farewell to her on my behalf
I'm tired of livin'
I am fed up with living
Livin' in misery
My current existence is full of sorrow and pain
If you see my mama,
If you happen to come across my mother
Tell her good -bye for me
Kindly inform her that I am saying goodbye
Ya know I'm tired of livin'
I am completely exhausted from the years of living
Livin' in misery
Enduring a life filled with sorrow and pain
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JERRY WILLIS, ROBERT RILEY, WILLIAM WOODROW SASSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jean Marie Harvell
Listening to Taj Mahal as a child, I developed a lifelong passion for the blues.
Axle Rose
I discovered the first Taj Mahal LP in 1968 and his vocal style mixed with Jesse Ed Davis' ax just blew me away. Starting in '62, I studied the blues of Mike Bloomfield and then the harp master Butterfield and wore out all the grooves while listening to Butterfield Blues Band's first LP and replaying every nuance of Butter's harp and so I got a few keys of Hohner Marine Band harps and started copying every cut I could latch onto...It turned me into a player in demand as an amplified harp sideman after playing with records for quite a few years. The purity of soulful expression was so powerful that even today, at 75 years young, when I'm feeling old and low, it lifts my spirit to a place that is so uniquely pleasurable and heartfelt that I'm an instantly happier man. Henry Saint Clair Fredericks country style harp was the spark that gave me a bigger life and has done so for many other people I'm sure. Taj will make a true believer out of you and I feel that my life was changed in so many positive ways by studying his blues, my own blues and the whole legacy of the many great legends thru throughout the 20th century. After all, the great truth is that the blues had a baby and they named it 'rock and roll' - dance thru life!
esslar1
The only reason I ever began listening to Taj Mahal was to hear him do "Statesboro Blues," my all-time favorite Allman Brothers song. Taj Mahal's version was so enjoyable, it led me to others of his songs and now I just love the guy.
inyobill
Ahhh man, where are the clubs that you can sit and listen to genius like this?
Cora Visser
it is very great I am proud that there was and is a lot of beautifull bluessongs and bands afcourse.thank you all.
Andre Matulich
Blessed are we who have heard the brilliance of Henry Saint Clair Fredericks. At times I have been really angry with him for his 'lack of discipline' and lack of dedication to the blues or if you prefer 'a single genre'. But then I ask 'how do I count myself worthy to judge?' It is worth sifting through Taj's music to sample the treasures; he is irreplacable amongst mine.
Carol Nelson
PLEASE TAJ.... PLEASE !! don't break my heart...oh ...but what a sweet delivery..
Dave Pearson
The blues ....
Craig McCauley
Good music!
Bikemax
great , my music !