Catfish Blues
Taj Mahal & Toumani Diabate Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, I wish I was a catfish
Swimmin' into the deep blue sea
I'd have all the good lookin' women
Swimmin' after me
Swimmin' after me
Swimmin' after me

Cause these blues, oh, these blues

Cause I'm goin' to the little girl's house, oh
Maybe you can find her
Timbuktu to Bamako
Timbuktu to Bamako
Timbuktu to Bamako

Oh, I wish, oh honey I can holler her
[?]
I keep on howlin' till I get
My baby back
Your baby back
My baby back

Well, it's two trains runnin'
Can never go my way
I'm gonna ride the first thing smokin'
Down the road I go
Down the road I go

Said now, I wish I was a catfish
Swimmin' into the deep blue sea
I'd have all you good lookin' women
Swimmin' after me
Swimmin' after me
Swimmin' after me

Oh, rollin' on, oh, rollin' on
Oh, rollin' on, oh, rollin' on

Overall Meaning

The song Catfish Blues by Taj Mahal and Toumani Diabate is a modern interpretation of the traditional blues song by the same name. The lyrics express the longing of the singer to be a catfish swimming in the deep blue sea, attracting all the good-looking women to follow him. The blues music style, characterized by its melancholic and sad notes, emphasizes the singer's yearning for love and companionship.

The lyrics also mention Timbuktu and Bamako, two cities in Mali, West Africa. This is significant because the song combines traditional African instruments, such as the kora played by Diabate, with the blues guitar played by Mahal, blending two musical traditions from different continents. The combination of the African and American musical styles highlights the shared experiences of African Americans and Africans, united by the historical trauma of slavery and colonization.

The lyrics of the song also mention "two trains runnin'" which is a reference to a popular blues song by the same name. This alludes to the shared cultural heritage of blues music and the expression of sadness and longing that characterizes both songs. Overall, Catfish Blues is a powerful reimagining of traditional blues music, blending African and American musical traditions to express the universal yearning for love and connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, I wish I was a catfish
Expressing the singer's wish to be a catfish.

Swimmin' into the deep blue sea
Desiring to swim in the deep blue sea as a catfish.

I'd have all the good lookin' women
Hoping to have all the attractive women.

Swimmin' after me
A perception of the women chasing after the artist as a catfish.

Cause these blues, oh, these blues
Acknowledging the feeling of sadness and despair.

Cause I'm goin' to the little girl's house, oh
Going to see a girl the singer is interested in.

Maybe you can find her
Asking for help in locating the girl's house.

Timbuktu to Bamako
Two places in Mali, Africa, indicating an adventurous journey.

Oh, I wish, oh honey I can holler her
Expressing the desire to call out to the girl as 'honey.'

[?]
Unclear lyrics which cannot be interpreted for meaning.

I keep on howlin' till I get
Continuing to express the desire to call out to her and not give up.

My baby back
Referring to the girl as his 'baby.'

Your baby back
Unclear if the singer is addressing an audience or making an error in lyricism.

Well, it's two trains runnin'
This line could indicate inspiration from a song by the same name by Muddy Waters, or it could be interpreted as a metaphor for pursuing two different paths or opportunities.

Can never go my way
Indicating the defeat or disappointment of the singer.

I'm gonna ride the first thing smokin'
Deciding to take the first available opportunity to leave or move on from the situation.

Down the road I go
Departing and moving on without turning back.

Said now, I wish I was a catfish
Reiterating the desire to be a catfish rather than the current circumstances of the singer.

Swimmin' into the deep blue sea
Reiterating the desire to swim in the sea as a catfish.

I'd have all you good lookin' women
The artist is addressing the women and indicating that if they were catfish, they would have all the good-looking women to themselves.

Swimmin' after me
Expressing the perception that the women would be interested in a catfish (or the artist) and thus would be pursuing them.

Oh, rollin' on, oh, rollin' on
A repeating chorus indicating that the artist is moving on to the next thing or departure.

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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