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.

country blues
Taj Mahal Lyrics

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Gonna move up to the country
Paint my mailbox blue
Gonna move up to the country
Paint my mailbox blue
Put some flowers on it, baby
Paint some trailin' vines and dew

You know I'm leavin' LA, baby

Don't you know this smog's got me down?
I'm leavin' LA, baby
Don't you know this smog has got me down?
I'm goin' up to the country
Where there ain't no doggone smog around

Well, come here, baby
Sugar, let your papa take you by the hand
Well, come here, baby
Sugar, let your papa take you by the hand
Well, you be my woman
And I'll be your city-boy, country man

I'm gonna move up to the country
Gonna paint, gonna paint, gonna paint, my mailbox blue
Move up to the country
Gonna paint my mailbox blue

Put some flowers on it, honey
Paint some trailin' vines and dew

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Taj Mahal's "Going Up To The Country Paint My Mailbox Blue" is an ode to leaving the city in search of a simpler and more peaceful life in the countryside. The repeated phrase "Gonna move up to the country / Paint my mailbox blue" is symbolic of the singer's desire to leave behind the chaos and pollution of Los Angeles and embrace the natural beauty of the countryside. The next line "Put some flowers on it, baby / Paint some trailin' vines and dew" suggests a desire to decorate the mailbox and make it more beautiful, which parallels the idea of leaving behind the dullness of city life and experiencing something more colorful and vibrant.

The second stanza highlights the reasons for leaving the city as the singer proclaims, "Don't you know this smog's got me down?" The idea of smog as a mood killer is a poignant reminder of how pollution affects people's well-being. The lyrics gain depth when examining the comparison between urban and rural life. The people living in cities often complain about the lack of clean air, water and streets. The country is where the natural beauty is still prominent, and where the people breathe fresh air.

As the song progresses, the singer invites his female partner to come with him and enjoy the simple pleasures together. "Well, come here, baby / Sugar, let your papa take you by the hand / You be my woman / And I'll be your city-boy, country man," suggests a mutual benefit for both parties involved, where the woman could experience a new way of living and the man could, in turn, cherish the women who comes with him to explore the country.

Line by Line Meaning

Gonna move up to the country
I am going to move to the countryside.

Paint my mailbox blue
I'm going to paint my mailbox blue.

Gonna move up to the country
I am going to move to the countryside.

Paint my mailbox blue
I'm going to paint my mailbox blue.

Put some flowers on it, baby
I'm planning to add some flowers to the mailbox.

Paint some trailin' vines and dew
I want to paint some vines and dew on it.

You know I'm leavin' LA, baby
I'm leaving Los Angeles due to heavy smog.

Don't you know this smog's got me down?
I feel down because of the heavy smog in LA.

I'm leavin' LA, baby
I'm leaving Los Angeles due to heavy smog.

Don't you know this smog has got me down?
I feel down because of the heavy smog in LA.

I'm goin' up to the country
I'm moving to the countryside to escape the smog and pollution.