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.

Ooh Poo Pah Doo
Taj Mahal Lyrics

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I wanna tell you about ooh poo pah doo
They call me the most
Ooh poo pah doo
They call me the most, yeah
I won't stop tryin' till I create a disturbance in your mind
Now ooh poo pah doo They call me the most 
Oh, yeah now 
They call me the most

 I won't stop tryin' till I create a disturbance in your mind
Create disturbance in your mind
 Create disturbance in your mind 
Create disturbance in your mind 
Create disturbance in your mind 
I won't stop tryin' till I create a disturbance in your mind
Lord have mercy 
Soul is happy children
Ooh pah doo
 They call me the most 
Oh, mama, mama, mama, mama 
Don't you know they call me the most, hey
 I won't stop tryin' till I create a disturbance in your mind
 Look in here baby, here's what I'm gonna do
Ring a few bells in your ear 
Ring a few bells in your ear 
Ring a few bells in your ear 

Ring a few bells in your ear 
I won't stop tryin' till I create a disturbance in your mind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Taj Mahal's song Ooh Poo Pah Doo convey a sense of urgency and persistence in the pursuit of creating a disturbance in the listener's mind. The repetition of the phrase "They call me the most" gives the impression of confidence and ego, with the singer striving to leave a lasting impression on his audience.

The line "Soul is happy children" further emphasizes the positivity and celebratory nature of the song, as if the singer is sharing in the joy of creating something new and exciting. The repeated refrain to "create a disturbance in your mind" reinforces the idea of pushing boundaries and challenging perceptions, urging listeners to open their minds and embrace new experiences.

Overall, the song can be interpreted as a call to action to shake things up and make a lasting impact in the world. It is a testament to the power of music to inspire and uplift, and a reminder that we should never stop striving for greatness.

Line by Line Meaning

I wanna tell you about ooh poo pah doo
I want to introduce you to something called ooh poo pah doo

They call me the most
People refer to me as the greatest

Ooh poo pah doo
Referring to the thing I want to introduce you to

I won't stop tryin' till I create a disturbance in your mind
I will persist until I cause a disruption in your thoughts

Now ooh poo pah doo They call me the most Oh, yeah now They call me the most I won't stop tryin' till I create a disturbance in your mind Create disturbance in your mind Create disturbance in your mind Create disturbance in your mind Create disturbance in your mind I won't stop tryin' till I create a disturbance in your mind
Reiterating that the thing I want to introduce you to is called ooh poo pah doo and people call me the greatest. Also repeating my determination to disrupt your thoughts

Lord have mercy Soul is happy children Ooh pah doo They call me the most
Expressing joy and happiness and again emphasizing that people refer to me as the greatest

Oh, mama, mama, mama, mama Don't you know they call me the most, hey
A playful tone expressing that even mothers know that people call me the greatest

Look in here baby, here's what I'm gonna do Ring a few bells in your ear Ring a few bells in your ear Ring a few bells in your ear Ring a few bells in your ear
Indicating a plan to grab your attention by trying a few things out and repeating it for emphasis

I won't stop tryin' till I create a disturbance in your mind
Reasserting my commitment to causing a disruption in your mind

Contributed by Elijah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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