The "Katy" refers to the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad.
She Caught the Katy and Left Me a Mule to Ride
Taj Mahal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She caught the Katy, and left me a mule to ride
My baby caught the Katy, left me a mule to ride
The train pulled out, and I swung on behind
I'm crazy 'bout her, that hardheaded woman of mine
Man, my baby's long, great god, she's mighty, she's tall
You know my baby's long, great god, she's mighty, my baby she's tall
Well, my baby she's long, my baby she's tall
And I'm still crazy 'bout her, that hardheaded woman of mine
Well, I love my baby, she's so fine
I wish she'd come and see me some time
If you don't believe I love her, look what a hole I'm in
If you don't believe I'm sinking, look what a shape I'm in
She caught the Katy, and left me a mule to ride
She caught the Katy, and left me a mule to ride
Well, my baby caught the Katy, left me a mule to ride
The train pulled out, and I swung on behind
I'm crazy 'bout her, that hardheaded woman, hardheaded woman of mine
The lyrics to Taj Mahal's "She Caught The Katy" tell the story of a man who has been left behind by his lover, who has presumably caught a train called the Katy. The line "left me a mule to ride" refers to the man being stuck with a slow and stubborn means of transportation, which metaphorically represents his feelings about being left behind. Despite being hurt by her departure, the man is still deeply in love with his partner, demonstrated by his repeated statements of being crazy about her and referring to her as his "hardheaded woman."
The line "she sleeps with her head in the kitchen and her big feet out in the hall" adds a humorous touch to the song, showcasing the man's fondness for his partner's quirks and possibly even indicating that they have a playful and light-hearted relationship.
Overall, the song captures the bittersweet feeling of being in love but being left behind. The man is left with a slow and unsteady form of transportation, but his love for his partner remains as strong as ever.
Line by Line Meaning
She caught the Katy, and left me a mule to ride
My beloved woman left me for another city, leaving me with a long and hard journey ahead, riding on a mule.
My baby caught the Katy, left me a mule to ride
The love of my life left me behind, giving me no option but to embark on a demanding mission by riding a mule.
The train pulled out, and I swung on behind
I barely managed to get on the moving train to catch up with my loved one.
I'm crazy 'bout her, that hardheaded woman of mine
Despite her stubbornness, I am madly in love with my woman.
Man, my baby's long, great god, she's mighty, she's tall
My beloved woman is incredibly tall, making her presence and strength felt everywhere.
Well, my baby she's long, my baby she's tall
My woman's height is significant, and it affects the way she sleeps and lurks around the house.
She sleeps with her head in the kitchen and her big feet out in the hall
My woman's sleeping position is unusual, with her head in the kitchen and feet in the hallway, portraying her uniqueness.
Well, I love my baby, she's so fine
I am fond of my woman, and her attractiveness is one of the reasons why I am crazy about her.
I wish she'd come and see me some time
I desire to see my woman again and spend some quality time with her.
If you don't believe I love her, look what a hole I'm in
My current state of despair and grief is a clear indication of my deep love for my woman.
If you don't believe I'm sinking, look what a shape I'm in
My emotional breakdown and physical exhaustion demonstrate the extent to which I am reeling from heartbreak.
I'm crazy 'bout her, that hardheaded woman, hardheaded woman of mine
I am still in love with my woman, even though she can be stubborn sometimes.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James A Rachell, Taj Mahal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brdwonder
For those who don't know "The Katy" was a passenger train. MKT, Missouri Kansas And Texas RR. I rode on it from KC Mo to Little Rock Ark in 1952. It was a class ride. As good or better than Union Pacific and Santa Fe.
@Slivdawg77
Thanks
@DarkEliteEric
Ty
@74HOLLE
Ty 4 info.
@tomburns41
A friend of mines dad worked for the KATY. Very cool!
@TheClemcaster
Just wondering about that...hoped someone would clear it up. Thankyou.
@joshhamon1205
This song is an American treasure, a true testimony of our culture and it makes you feel so good. Art in the highest form.
@bossshun9
Who is still listening to this for 2020-2025 despite everything?! 😎😎👍🏾👍🏾
@KBCC_Garage
The blues helps get us through. 😎😎👍🏾
@DeusExHonda
YES! This might be one of the best songs ever written, it gets me way deep down inside and I just have to sing and move