He was, however, a talented musician who played saxophone and keyboard, so that in 1978 when his father needed a sax player to fill in on a long road tour, he called on his son. C.J. Thompson quickly embraced the world of zydeco, his father's world, and went on to learn to play the accordion and also decided to have his last name legally changed to Chenier.
As his health began to fail, Clifton Chenier let his son sit in for him, and when he died in 1987, C.J. Chenier became the leader of the Red Hot Louisiana Band. As he told Michael Tisserand, he does not try to imitate his father's playing directly: "I play it the way I play it. All he really told me was to do the best I could do with my own style." But, like his father, the only accordion he plays is the piano accordion, an instrument that allows him more freedom than the button accordions used by most zydeco bands today. He can express himself musically in many styles or combinations of styles–ballads, waltzes, blues, boogie, rock and roll, funk, jazz–it all comes together as C.J. Chenier's fingers race up and down the keyboard, what one reviewer describes as "red hot rhythms and soulful grooves." In addition to his own interpretations of songs from different genres and his father's songs, C.J. Chenier has also written a number of original songs.
Recent albums on Alligator Records are Step It Up! (2001), The Big Squeeze (1996) and Too Much Fun (1995). His first album, My Baby Don't Wear No Shoes, recorded in 1988 and released by Arhoolie on CD in 1992, includes the classic Clifton Chenier song "I'm Coming Home." C.J. Chenier also recorded two albums for the alternative rock label Slash: Hot Rod (1990) and I Ain't No Playboy (1992).
REF: http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/music/cjchenier.htm
It's Alright
C.J. Chenier Lyrics
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That would change the way I feel
I've heard it all before
But I know this love inside is real
And it's alright
It's okay
Nothing matters
Anyway
Now I'm on the road
And I feel like I am on my way home
Back where I belong
Old friends forgive the things that you've done
And it's alright
It's okay
Nothing matters
Anyway
My eyes
Are on you now
You're beautiful and I'll let you know somehow
La lo la lo la la lo la
La lo la lo la la lo la
And it's alright
It's okay
Nothing matters
Anyway
I'm with you
You are with me
And we are free
The lyrics of C. J. Chenier's song “It's Alright” tell a story of a man who has been hurt by a woman's actions but is now standing his ground and moving forward. He begins by stating that the woman will never know how he feels, and he is hurt that when he needed her support the most, she always tried to bring him down. Nevertheless, he believes that she will surely pay for her actions. Although the woman may have hurt him, he asserts that it's alright, and he will move forward. He loves her, but he recognizes that he cannot force her to reciprocate his love.
The artist goes on further to explain that the woman will undoubtedly meet someone else who will treat her similarly and make her pay. He cautions that it is only fair, given that she will have to reap what she sows. He concludes by saying goodbye to the woman, stating that she has hurt him once or twice, but it doesn't change the fact that he needs to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know how I feel
You cannot comprehend the way that I feel
You'll never know how I feel
It is impossible for you to know how I feel
Oh, when I needed you to come around
At the moment when I was seeking your support and presence
You always try to bring me down
You frequently attempt to discourage and dishearten me
Oh, but I know, girl, believe me when I say that
However, I am certain, trust me when I claim that
You are surely, surely gonna pay, girl
You will undoubtedly pay for your actions, young lady
But it's all right, all right, girl
However, it is acceptable, acceptable, young lady
You can hurt me, but it's all right
You may cause me harm, but it is tolerable
Hey now, one day, ah, you will see
Someday in the future, you will realize
You'll never find a guy like me
You will never come across another man like me
Who'll love you right, both day and night
Who will care for you correctly, every minute of the day and night
You'll never have to worry 'cause it's all fine
You will never feel apprehensive since everything will be alright
Oh, but I'm tellin' you, girl, and I know that it's true
However, I am informing you, young lady, and I am confident that this is the truth
That I was made to love only you
I was created simply to love you
Go on, yeah
Carry on, indeed
Oh yeah
Oh yes
My, my, my baby, oh yeah
My, my, my darling, oh yes
I said it's all right, all right, girl
I stated that it is acceptable, acceptable, young lady
Hey, say it's all right, all right, girl
Come on, declare that it is tolerable, tolerable, young lady
Now there's one thing I wanna say, hey, yeah
At this point, there is one thing I want to express, hey, yes
You'll meet a guy who'll make you pay
You will encounter a man who will cause you to suffer the consequences
He'll treat you bad and make you sad
He will mistreat you and make you sorrowful
And you will lose the love you had
And you will forfeit the affection you possessed
Oh, but I hate to say I told you so, but
However, I dislike voicing my previous warning, but
Baby, you got to, got to reap what you sow
Young lady, you must receive the fruits of your labor
So goodbye, now, goodbye, girl
Therefore goodbye, now, goodbye, young lady
You're payin' now, so bye-bye
You are experiencing the consequences now, so farewell
You hurt me once, you hurt me twice
You injured me once, you caused me pain twice
Oh, but-a baby, that don't cut no ice
However, that fact does not concern me
Hey, goodbye, baby, goodbye now
Come on, farewell, baby, farewell now
So long and goodbye
A farewell, and goodbye
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Jeffrey Andrews
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind