The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #6753   Message #2463343
Posted By: GUEST,Root Beer Slim
11-Oct-08 - 08:14 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Ain't Nobody's Business (Taj Mahal)
Subject: Lyr Add: NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT MY OWN (Taj Mahal)
You can find the Taj Mahal version of this tune on an album called 'Big Sur Festival - One Hand Clapping', Columbia Records #64844, released in 1972 but recorded in 1971. Also appearing on the recording are Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Mickey Newbury, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Mimi Farina, John Cooke, Tom Jans, Larry Hankin, Lily Tomlin and the Big Sur Choir. I met Taj once at a 'Peace Sunday' concert at the Rose Bowl in 1983 and even he didn't know what album had this version. It took me several years of combing used record stores during my traveling days, coast to coast.

You are also correct in the references to a tricked out car in a rap Taj does between verses. I just faithfully transcribed the following directly from the LP, with his vernacular and mis-speaks verbatim.

Champagne don't drive me crazy.
Cocaine don't make me lazy.
Ain't nobody's business but my own.
Candy is dandy, and liquor is quicker.
You can drink all the liquor down in Costa Rica.
Ain't nobody's business but my own.

You can ride a great big pink Cadillac to church on Sunday,
You can hang around the house with your old lady on Monday.
Ain't nobody's business but your own.
Man, I don't care what in the world that you do,
As long as you do what you say you goin' to.
Ain't nobody's business but your own.

Now I know some of you cuties, you real fine cuties,
You go steppin' downtown just to hang around.
Standing on the corner so the fellas will stare and say
"Owhhhhh, ain't she sweet!"

Champagne don't drive me crazy.
Cocaine don't make me lazy.
Ain't nobody's business but my own.
Candy is dandy, and liquor is quicker.
You can drink all the liquor down in Costa Rica.
Ain't nobody's business but my own.

You can walk downtown in your birthday suit.
I can see you comin' out of the Bank of America with a whole lotta loot.
Ain't nobody's business but your own.
Now you know that cocaine for horses, now it ain't for men.
The doctor said it'd kill me but he didn't say when.
Ain't nobody's business but your own.

Now you know sometime I put on my straw hat and my stripe pants and my spats, baby, you know, and I go truckin' downtown.
Standin' on the corner so the fellas can stare and say,

"Hey man, ain't you the brother in the '57 Mercury with the turnpike skirts, and the chrome reverse wheels with white-wall tires and lights under skirts, with, painted lime green, with reversible license plates, with windows you can see out, can't nobody see in, with four-on-the-floor, seven hundred and forty-five horse power and a big stereo listenin' to Wolfman Jack say "Ain't this XERB baby?"

Champagne don't drive me crazy.
Cocaine don't make me lazy.
Ain't nobody's business but my own.
Candy is dandy and liquor is quicker.
You can drink all the liquor down in Costa Rica.
Ain't nobody's business but your own, but my own.

Come on now let's try it, here we go, 1-2-3

Now champagne don't drive me crazy.
Cocaine don't make me lazy.
Ain't nobody's business but my own.
Sing it out!
Candy is dandy, and liquor is quicker.
You can drink all the liquor down in Costa Rica.
Ain't nobody's business but my own.

Once again.

Champagne don't drive me crazy.
Cocaine don't make me lazy.
Ain't nobody's business but my own.
Candy is dandy, and liquor is quicker.
You can drink all the liquor down in Costa Rica.
Ain't nobody's business but my own.

(applause)

Thank you!

(applause)

It's just Taj and a banjo.

I hope this helps. There doesn't seem to be a CD of this album available.