Crazy Mama
Cale J. J. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
You've been hiding out, I know that's true
Crazy mama, I sure need you
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
that crazy mama coming back to me?
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
In Cale J. J.'s song "Crazy Mama," we see a man who's clearly been missing his lover for quite some time. The repeated chorus, "Crazy mama, where you been so long?" is indicative of his deep longing for her, and his desperation to know where she's been hiding out all this time. He seems to have been searching for her for a while now, as evidenced by the second verse where he's standing on a street corner, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. He's clearly been struggling without her, as he sings "Crazy mama, I sure need you."
The lyrics in this song are incredibly simple, but that's what makes them so effective. The repetition of the chorus drives home the sense of urgency and longing that the singer feels, and the verses provide just enough context to let us know why he's so fixated on finding her. We don't know the reason for her disappearance, but we don't need to - the emotion in the singer's voice is enough to convey the gravity of the situation.
Overall, "Crazy Mama" is a song about love and loss, and the overwhelming desire to be reunited with the one you love. It's a classic example of blues-infused rock, with a simple yet effective melody that perfectly complements the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Asking where the woman he loves has gone and why she's been away for so long.
You've been hiding out, I know that's true
Acknowledging that he knows she's been avoiding him and the relationship.
Crazy mama, I sure need you
Expressing how much he misses and desires her presence in his life.
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Waiting and hoping to see her return.
Lord have mercy, can I see,
Appealing to a higher power to allow him to catch a glimpse of her.
that crazy mama coming back to me?
Desperately hoping she will return to him in spite of their difficulties.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN J CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@connieschwarz6023
i just read your comment about Jj.
and i thought you might want to know a little more about that song and JJ.
way back then i was in my 20’s and i was throwing a party at my apartment.
i’m from nashville tennessee.
i grew up in the music industry.
i had a friend named Christine and she was also a singer and musician.
okay…. so everyone was dancing in my kitchen.
my friends had just wrapped up a recording session and they were there.
we’re having a really good time!
i noticed this guy standing in the corner of my kitchen.
really quite kind of guy.
well it was JJ.
JJ was in intrested in Christian .
so they leave together and the rest was history.
anyway…. Eric Clapton had heard JJ’s song After Midnight and he loved it!
so he paid JJ To let him record the song his way.
before i knew it Christine pulls up at my house in a brand new corvette with a license plate on the front that said Crazy Mama!
Christine and i would drive all around nashville in the corvette that JJ had bought for her with some of the money that Eric had paid him.
it was CRAZY! it was beautiful!
just thought you might want to know.
@smokinjz
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
You've been hiding out, I know that's true
Crazy mama, I sure need you
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Lord have mercy, can I see,
that crazy mama coming back to me?
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
@joaofalcao8559
One, two, three, four
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
You've been hidin' out
I know that's true
Crazy mama, I sure need you
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Standin' on the corner
Lookin' for you, babe
Standin' on the corner
Lookin' for you, babe
Lord, have mercy
I can not see
Crazy mama comin' back to me
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
@sterlingdoughty843
one of the greatest songs of the time
@imonlyyou
Still astounding that an album of southern folk music set to a primitive beatbox stood toe to toe with Zepplin and the Stones and Yes and Bowie and all the other heavies back in 1972. RIP for now, J.J. Cale, thank you forever.
@kerryanncompany5408
❤️🎶🙏
@delaineshay37
Love this song—awesome smooth beat
@Morganasnotarobot0
Very similar cool n sweet vibes, As in mb same league Golden hits As popular As LZ ❤too Many cool melody's 🎶in All myriad styles soulfullyblues,,✨ 🎤✨🎸of JJcale LZ so many Once traversed the limelight ✨these perhaps Incredible Greats Outlive em to stay in great rocknrolhistoryOfACoolzAlAlphastylesNo1s hittn charts Of
TopMankindsfame🎼~❤~🎼
@mikewilliams8951
❤ remember in Lovers Lane 🌸👌
@connieschwarz6023
i just read your comment about Jj.
and i thought you might want to know a little more about that song and JJ.
way back then i was in my 20’s and i was throwing a party at my apartment.
i’m from nashville tennessee.
i grew up in the music industry.
i had a friend named Christine and she was also a singer and musician.
okay…. so everyone was dancing in my kitchen.
my friends had just wrapped up a recording session and they were there.
we’re having a really good time!
i noticed this guy standing in the corner of my kitchen.
really quite kind of guy.
well it was JJ.
JJ was in intrested in Christian .
so they leave together and the rest was history.
anyway…. Eric Clapton had heard JJ’s song After Midnight and he loved it!
so he paid JJ To let him record the song his way.
before i knew it Christine pulls up at my house in a brand new corvette with a license plate on the front that said Crazy Mama!
Christine and i would drive all around nashville in the corvette that JJ had bought for her with some of the money that Eric had paid him.
it was CRAZY! it was beautiful!
just thought you might want to know.
@juanoperez5266
Great LP. One of the best vinils of J.J.Cale 1972. Great artist, a GIANT.
@brianallancobb
Best song of '72. Best slide, ever. Rest in peace, J.J. Your songs won't die while I have breath to sing.
@chunderwunderwhinger1331
I'm playing it NOW ...30 Nov 2022 15.06 european time ..