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.

The Cuckoo
Taj Mahal Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You know the cuckoo
Shes a pretty bird
Baby but she warble woman as she fly
But she never, never heard a cuckoo
Until the Fourth Day of July

Mama, mama
Ooh, sweet mama

Tell you boy not to be a gamblin' man
Cuz the card'll cheat em'
Lord they will beat him
And they'll leave him with a losin' hand

Jack o' Diamonds
Yeah, Jack o' Diamonds
Well, ya robbed my poor pocket o' silver and gold
First ya hurt me
Then ya desert me
Then ya leave me out in the cold

I'm gonna buy me
Baby, I'm gonna buy me
A little cabin on the mountain top
You know I'm gonna stay there
Baby I'm just gonna lay there
I don't care if the whole world come to a stop

You know the cuckoo is a pretty bird
Baby but she warble as she fly

But baby you never heard a cuckoo
Until the Fourth of July

Overall Meaning

In the opening verse of Taj Mahal's song "The Cuckoo," the singer introduces the listener to the charming bird, known for its distinctive and melodic warbling. He notes that it is a beautiful creature and skillful flyer, but that it has never heard another cuckoo until one fateful day: the Fourth of July. This observation sets the stage for the main theme of the song, which is the unpredictability and wonder of life, and the way chance encounters and unexpected events can change our perspectives.

The second verse introduces a more cautionary note, as Taj Mahal's mother warns him against the dangers of gambling. The image of cards being stacked against the singer suggests a sense of injustice or powerlessness, as if the world is conspiring against him. The mention of the Jack o' Diamonds, a common gambling card, underscores this impression. The lyric "First ya hurt me, then ya desert me, then ya leave me out in the cold" further highlights the sense of betrayal and disappointment that Taj Mahal's persona feels.

The final verse offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer imagines buying a cabin on a mountaintop where he can find peace and quiet. The line "I don't care if the whole world come to a stop" suggests a desire for solitude and reflection, as well as a sense of detachment from the outside world that he perceives as harsh and unforgiving. The return to the cuckoo motif at the end of the song is a reminder that there is still beauty and wonder to be found in the world, even amidst life's challenges and disappointments.

Line by Line Meaning

You know the cuckoo
The singer asserts that the listener is already familiar with the cuckoo bird.

Shes a pretty bird
The singer deems the cuckoo as an attractive creature.

Baby but she warble woman as she fly
The cuckoo's bird-like song sounds like a human female's singing voice.

But she never, never heard a cuckoo Until the Fourth Day of July
The artist implies that they first experienced hearing the cuckoo's song on a U.S. holiday, likely a significant event in their life.

Mama, mama Ooh, sweet mama Tell you boy not to be a gamblin' man Cuz the card'll cheat em' Lord they will beat him And they'll leave him with a losin' hand
The artist advises that gambling is not a lucrative hobby, as the risks of loss outweigh the potential rewards.

Jack o' Diamonds Yeah, Jack o' Diamonds Well, ya robbed my poor pocket o' silver and gold First ya hurt me Then ya desert me Then ya leave me out in the cold
The singer bemoans the loss of their money and the betrayal and abandonment they feel from the Jack of Diamonds card.

I'm gonna buy me Baby, I'm gonna buy me A little cabin on the mountain top You know I'm gonna stay there Baby I'm just gonna lay there I don't care if the whole world come to a stop
The singer dreams of a simple life in solitude, as if retreating from the world's chaos and demands.

You know the cuckoo is a pretty bird Baby but she warble as she fly But baby you never heard a cuckoo Until the Fourth of July
The artist restates their initial lines, implying that the listener still does not fully comprehend the nature of the cuckoo's song.

Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS