Taj Mahal is no purist. His recordings, which cherry-pick influences from J… Read Full Bio ↴Taj Mahal is no purist. His recordings, which cherry-pick influences from Jamaica to India, suggest that Mississippi mud is just one of the blues' many ingredients. And Toumani Diabaté, a modern master of the Malian twenty-one-string kora has expanded the reach of West African music in jam sessions with classical and flamenco virtuosos. The two artists collaborated on an album titled Kulanjan, which was released in 1999.

Take This Hammer
Taj Mahal & Toumani Diabaté Lyrics

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Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Tell him I'm gone, tell him I'm gone

If he asks you was I runnin'
If he asks you was I runnin'
If he asks you was I runnin'

Tell him I was flyin', tell him I was flyin'

If he asks you was I laughin'
If he asks you was I laughin'
If he asks you was I laughin'
Tell him I was cryin', tell him I was cryin'

They wanna feed me cornbread and molasses
They wanna feed me cornbread and molasses

They wanna feed me cornbread and molasses
But I got my pride, well, I got my pride

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Taj Mahal & Toumani Diabate's song Take This Hammer express a sense of defiance and resistance against oppression. The repeated phrase "take this hammer, carry it to the captain" suggests a desire to rebel and take action against those in power. The subsequent lines indicate a readiness to face whatever consequences may come from this rebellion, including being questioned by the captain about the singer's actions. The response to this potential questioning is one of boldness and audacity, with the singer claiming to have been not just running, but flying, and not just laughing, but crying.

Line by Line Meaning

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
I need you to take this hammer and deliver it to the captain

Tell him I'm gone, tell him I'm gone
Inform him that I have departed

If he asks you was I runnin'
In the event that he inquires if I was fleeing

Tell him I was flyin', tell him I was flyin'
Insist that you inform him that I was soaring, rather than running away

If he asks you was I laughin'
In case he asks whether I was laughing

Tell him I was cryin', tell him I was cryin'
Make it clear that you inform him that I was weeping, not laughing

They wanna feed me cornbread and molasses
They are attempting to feed me a meager meal of cornbread and molasses

But I got my pride, well, I got my pride
Nevertheless, I possess my dignity and self-respect

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAHAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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