New Orleans
CaleJ.J. Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Have you ever been down to New Orleans
Lord, lord, them crazy queens
Crying the blues is what they do down there
Fortune teller, he knows your name
Fortune teller, he'll tell you your game
Crying the blues, that's what they do down there
Money dripping from a willow tree
He never want me
Lazy bones, I ain't got a dime
Just biding my time
If I find a way to choose
New Orleans, where they're crying the blues
Drinking bourbon from a dixie cup
Hanging out till the sun comes up
Crying the blues is what they do down there
French women, all I need
Up and down old Bourbon Street
Crying the blues is what they do down there




If I find a way to choose
New Orleans, where they're singing the blues

Overall Meaning

The song "New Orleans" by J.J. Cale takes us on a musical journey through the streets of this vibrant city. The lyrics express the singer's desire to go to New Orleans where he can experience the unique culture of the city. It starts off by describing the people of New Orleans as "crazy queens" who are known for crying the blues. The reference to the fortune teller who knows your name and tells you your game adds to the mysterious and exotic vibe of the city. The money dripping from the willow tree hints at the decadence and hedonistic lifestyle of the city.


The chorus repeats the idea that crying the blues is what they do down there, which is synonymous with the city's musical heritage. The singer is a "lazy bones" who is broke and has nothing much to do but "bid his time". He dreams of going to New Orleans, where he can experience the local flavor, drink bourbon from dixie cups, and hang out until dawn with French women on Bourbon Street. The idea of singing the blues is not seen as a negative thing here, but rather as an essential part of the city's identity that the singer yearns to experience.


Overall, the song "New Orleans" is a tribute to the city's rich history and musical culture. It highlights why the city is a must-see destination for anyone who wants to experience something different.


Line by Line Meaning

Have you ever been down to New Orleans
Have you ever visited the vibrant city of New Orleans?


Lord, lord, them crazy queens
There are eccentric and peculiar people in New Orleans, especially in the French Quarter.


Crying the blues is what they do down there
There is a lot of emotional expression through blues music in New Orleans.


Fortune teller, he knows your name
There are fortune tellers in New Orleans who claim to know your future and personal information.


Fortune teller, he'll tell you your game
Fortune tellers can predict your success or failure in various aspects of life in New Orleans.


Crying the blues, that's what they do down there
New Orleans is known for blues music and its emotional content.


Money dripping from a willow tree
Money is scarce in New Orleans and that is just a fantasy.


He never want me
I don't have someone who loves me in New Orleans.


Lazy bones, I ain't got a dime
I am broke and not motivated in New Orleans.


Just biding my time
I am waiting for an opportunity in New Orleans.


If I find a way to choose
If I find a better option in life than New Orleans.


New Orleans, where they're crying the blues
New Orleans is a place where blues music and expression is prominent.


Drinking bourbon from a dixie cup
It is common to drink bourbon from a disposable cup in New Orleans.


Hanging out till the sun comes up
People in New Orleans party all night and into the morning.


Crying the blues is what they do down there
New Orleans is a place where people express their emotions through blues music.


French women, all I need
I am interested in French women while in New Orleans.


Up and down old Bourbon Street
I enjoy frequenting Bourbon Street in New Orleans.


Crying the blues is what they do down there
Blues music is a prominent form of emotional expression in New Orleans.


If I find a way to choose
If I find something better in life than New Orleans.


New Orleans, where they're singing the blues
New Orleans is an expressive place where blues music is prominent.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN J CALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Frankie Hines

That drop at the end was rough. He was WIDE open

Liam Deege

It’s like Jackie Smith in Super Bowl 13

elijah V-LOG

Nahh fr, tough way to go out for saints at home-field

Puppethound

@Liam Deege nothing like that

Cutthroat

Seriously u can’t get more open then that there’s no reason he should’ve dropped that

Liam Deege

@puppethound Just makes me think about it looking back at this because it was a crucial moment in the game, wide open, and then drops it badly.

182 More Replies...

JahNuhThun Dee The One And Only

Fun fact: This was the Jaguars first-ever win at New Orleans

Liam Deege

That’s actually cool to hear!

P JB

Trevor Lawrences only lost twice in college. Both in the superdome lol.

Lanier Jr

Another fun fact Justin Herbert has never beaten Trevor Lawrence

More Comments

More Versions