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.
Never Let You Go
Taj Mahal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet Honey you know you shine
There is none brighter baby, in my eyes
I am so happy your mine, all mine
Your smile is my sunny day
chasing all my many troubles away
The way you kiss, so tenderly
dont you know you make my life complete
in some old distant land
I know I can hold on
cuz it wont be too long till I am back
in your arms
(chorus)
and ohhh
baby when your close to me
honey what you do to me
I'll never let you go
and ohh
baby when its late at night
you know I am gonna hold you tight
I'll never gonna let you go
and ohhh
baby when your close to me
honey what you do to me
I'll never let you go
and ohhh
baby when its late at night
you know Iam going to love you right
I'll never let you go
Sugar, when Iam on my fishing boat
your the star that leads me safely home
although honey just dont taste as sweet
your my one and only queen bee
your smile is my sunny day
chasing my many troubles away
baby with you satnding by my side
I am going to be happy till the end of time
it only takes one glance
into those pretty eyes
I know I can walk through mine
you and me will be just fine
your hand in mine
(chorus)
and ohhh
baby when your close to me
honey what you do to me
I'll never let you go
and ohh
baby when its late at night
you know I am gonna hold you tight
I'll never gonna let you go
and ohhh
baby when your close to me
honey what you do to me
I'll never let you go
and ohhh
baby when its late at night
you know Iam going to love you right
I'll never let you go
(repeat till fade)
Taj Mahal's song Never Let You Go is a love song filled with passionate, heartfelt lyrics. The opening verse starts with a beautiful and vivid description of the woman in the singer's life. He compares her to the stars in the Hawaiian sky, vivid and shining bright, and declares that there is no one brighter than her in his eyes. He expresses his love for her and the happiness she brings to his life; her smile alone is enough to chase away all of his troubles. The way she kisses him, so tenderly, makes his life complete, and when he's away, he knows he can hold on because he'll be back in her arms soon.
The chorus reaffirms the singer's sentiment that he'll never let her go. When she's close, he feels a sense of completeness he can't put into words, and he'll never let her go. Even at night, he wants to hold her tight and show her his love. He recognizes the value of their relationship, comparing her to the guiding star that leads him home, and even though honey doesn't taste as sweet as it should be, she's the only queen bee for him. As long as she's by his side, he's going to be happy till the end of time. The song's natural flow, passionate lyrics, and heartfelt melody make for a love song that is real, relatable, and genuine.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the stars in the Hawaiian sky
You shine so bright, just like the beautiful stars in the Hawaiian sky.
Sweet Honey you know you shine
You are my sweet honey and you shine brighter than anyone else.
There is none brighter baby, in my eyes
No one else shines brighter than you do in my eyes, my love.
I am so happy your mine, all mine
I am filled with so much happiness that you are mine and only mine, my beloved.
Your smile is my sunny day
Your smile brings sunshine into my life every day.
chasing all my many troubles away
Your smile has the power to chase away all of my troubles and worries.
The way you kiss, so tenderly
The tender way in which you kiss me is so special and magical.
dont you know you make my life complete
You complete my life and bring joy and happiness to it every day.
and when I am far away
Even when I am far away from you,
in some old distant land
in a distant land,
I know I can hold on
I know I can hold on to the thought of you and the love we share.
cuz it wont be too long till I am back
Because it won't be too long until I am back in your loving arms.
in your arms
holding you close in your loving arms.
baby when your close to me
When you are close to me, baby,
honey what you do to me
you make my heart race and I feel a love so sweet and intense, my dear honey.
I'll never let you go
I will never let you go, my love, because you mean everything to me.
baby when its late at night
Late at night, my darling,
you know I am gonna hold you tight
I will hold you tightly in my arms, and never let you go.
Sugar, when Iam on my fishing boat
Even when I am on my fishing boat, my sweet sugar,
your the star that leads me safely home
You are the guiding star that always leads me safely back home to you.
although honey just dont taste as sweet
Even though honey doesn't taste as sweet,
your my one and only queen bee
you are still my one and only queen bee and the love of my life.
baby with you standing by my side
With you standing by my side, my love,
I am going to be happy till the end of time
I know that happiness is guaranteed by your side forever and ever.
it only takes one glance
All it takes is one glance into your beautiful eyes,
into those pretty eyes
into your pretty and mesmerizing eyes,
I know I can walk through mine
and I know that I can overcome any obstacle or challenge with you by my side.
you and me will be just fine
We will be just fine, my love, as long as we are together.
your hand in mine
holding your hand and feeling your love.
Contributed by Makayla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.