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.

Shake Sugaree
Taj Mahal Lyrics

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{And Elizabeth Cotton is a writer of very fine songs
Such as, 'Freight Train' and 'Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie'
And she wanted this song to be sung by children
All over the place and all over the world
And that's why we are bringin' it to you}

{Also, many other famous people have recorded this song
And it's a great song to sing

Remember, this is 'Shake Sugaree'}

Have a little song
Won't take long
Sing it right
Once or twice

Oh Lordy me, didn't we shake sugaree?
Everything I got is down in pawn
Everything I got is down in pawn

Pawned my watch
Pawned my chain
Pawned everything
Even pawned my own name

Oh Lordy me, didn't we shake sugaree?
Everything I got is down in pawn
Everything I got, I got in pawn

Have a secret
I ain't gonna tell
I'm goin' to heaven
And I ain't goin' to

Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is down in pawn
Everything I got is down in pawn

Pawned my buggy
Pawned my plough
Pawned everything
Even pawn my old cow

Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is down in pawn
Everything I got is down in pawn

Have a secret
I ain't gonna tell
I'm goin' to heaven
In a brown pea shell

Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree?
Everything I got is down in pawn
Everything I got is down in pawn

Have a little song
Won't take long
Sing it right
Once or twice

Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree?

Everything I got, I got in pawn
Everything I got is down in pawn

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Taj Mahal's Shake Sugaree tell the story of someone who has pawned off everything they own, including their watch, chain, buggy, and even their own name. They sing about a secret that they won't tell, and how they are going to heaven in a brown pea shell. The phrase "shake sugaree" is repeated throughout the song and is believed to refer to a ritualistic dance that was performed by African American slaves in the Southern United States. The song is also a tribute to Elizabeth Cotton, a folk singer and songwriter who wrote the well-known songs "Freight Train" and "Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie." According to Mahal, Cotton wanted this song to be sung by children all over the world, which is why he decided to record it.

The lyrics of Shake Sugaree may be interpreted in a number of ways. Some believe that they are a metaphor for the struggles of life and how we must sometimes sacrifice what we have in order to survive. Others see it as a spiritual song that is meant to bring comfort to those who are facing difficult times. The line "I'm goin' to heaven in a brown pea shell" is often interpreted as a reference to the belief that we will all return to the earth in the end.

Line by Line Meaning

And Elizabeth Cotton is a writer of very fine songs
Elizabeth Cotton is a very talented songwriter

Such as, 'Freight Train' and 'Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie'
She has written wonderful songs like 'Freight Train' and 'Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie'

And she wanted this song to be sung by children
This song is meant to be sung by children

All over the place and all over the world
Everywhere and anywhere

And that's why we are bringin' it to you
This is why we are sharing this song with you

Also, many other famous people have recorded this song
This song has been recorded by many famous musicians

And it's a great song to sing
It's a fantastic song to sing

Remember, this is 'Shake Sugaree'
Don't forget, this song is called 'Shake Sugaree'

Have a little song
Let's sing a little song

Won't take long
It won't take much time

Sing it right
Let's sing it correctly