His songs have been performed by a number of other musicians including "After Midnight" and "Cocaine" by Eric Clapton,"Cajun Moon" by Randy Crawford, "Clyde" and "Louisiana Women" by Waylon Jennings, "Magnolia" by Jai, "Bringing It Back" by Kansas, "Call Me the Breeze" and "I Got the Same Old Blues" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, "I'd Like to Love You, Baby" by Tom Petty, "Travelin' Light" and "Ride Me High" by Widespread Panic, "Tijuana" by Harry Manx, "Sensitive Kind" by Carlos Santana, "Cajun Moon" by Herbie Mann with Cissy Houston, and "Same Old Blues" by Captain Beefheart.
Cale was born on December 5, 1938, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was raised in Tulsa and graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1956. Along with a number of other young Tulsa musicians, Cale moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s, where he first worked as a studio engineer.
The Leathercoated Minds was a 1966-67 psychedelic studio-based band masterminded largely by Snuff Garrett and J J Cale. The band produced one album, A Trip down the Sunset Strip, co-produced by Cale and Garrett
Finding little success as a recording artist, he later returned to Tulsa and was considering giving up the music business until Clapton recorded "After Midnight" in 1970. His first album, Naturally, established his style, described by Los Angeles Times writer Richard Cromelin as a "unique hybrid of blues, folk and jazz, marked by relaxed grooves and Cale's fluid guitar and laconic vocals. His early use of drum machines and his unconventional mixes lend a distinctive and timeless quality to his work and set him apart from the pack of Americana roots-music purists."
Some sources incorrectly give his real name as "Jean-Jacques Cale". In the 2006 documentary, To Tulsa and Back: On Tour with J.J. Cale, Cale talks about Elmer Valentine, co-owner of the Sunset Strip nightclub Whisky à GoGo, who employed him in the mid-1960s, being the one that came up with the "JJ" moniker to avoid confusion with the Velvet Underground's John Cale. Rocky Frisco tells the same version of the story mentioning the other John Cale but without further detail.
His biggest U.S. hit single, Crazy Mama, peaked at #22 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972. During the 2006 documentary film To Tulsa and Back Cale recounts the story of being offered the opportunity to appear on Dick Clark's American Bandstand to promote the song, which would have moved the song higher on the charts. Cale declined when told he could not bring his band to the taping and would be required to lip-sync the words to the song.
Cale died on Friday, July 26, 2013, at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, California, after suffering a heart attack.
Cajun Moon
J.J. Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As you move across the southern sky
You took my babe way too soon
What have you done, Cajun moon
Someday babe, when you want your man
And you find him gone, just like the wind
Don't trouble your mind whatever you do
'Cause Cajun moon took him from you
When daylight fades, the night comes on
You can hear the silence of this song
Don't trouble your mind whatever you do
'Cause he got me like he got you
J.J. Cale's song Cajun Moon is a melancholic expression of loss and the power of the moon in people's life. Cale is confronting the "Cajun Moon," imagining it as a powerful force, as it moves across the southern sky, and asking where its power lies. The singer reveals that the moon took his "babe" away too soon, and he wonders what the moon has done. He then consoles the imagined narrator, who might find herself in a similar situation of losing her man, advising her not to trouble her mind because the moon took him from her. The nighttime becomes a time of contemplation, and the song's melody creates a pensive mood that matches the theme of the song.
The song follows the tradition of storytelling through music, the Louisiana folklore of the Cajun people, and the idea of the mystical power of the moon. The title "Cajun Moon" obviously refers to the people of Louisiana and their traditions such as their music and cuisine. Cajun culture and music have a blend of different influences such as African, French, Spanish, and Native American, which adds more depth to the song's meaning. The song is evocative and romantic, albeit sad, and showcases Cale's skill in blending different genres like blues, rock, folk, and country into a unique sound.
Line by Line Meaning
Cajun moon, where does your power lie
The singer is curious about the mystical force that imbues the Cajun moon with its powers.
As you move across the southern sky
The singer references the movement of the moon in the sky, further emphasizing its power.
You took my babe way too soon
The singer feels that the moon's power has robbed them of their lover, who passed away before their time.
What have you done, Cajun moon
The artist directly questions the moon's power and its role in their loss.
Someday babe, when you want your man
The artist addresses their lost lover, acknowledging that they may one day wish to be reunited with them.
And you find him gone, just like the wind
The singer asserts that their lover is gone and cannot be found, like a gust of wind that cannot be captured or tamed.
Don't trouble your mind whatever you do
The singer offers advice to their departed lover, urging them not to worry or be troubled about their separation.
'Cause Cajun moon took him from you
The artist places the blame for their lover's departure on the moon's power, lamenting that it took their loved one away.
When daylight fades, the night comes on
The artist remarks on the arrival of night, symbolizing the darkness and loneliness they feel without their lover.
You can hear the silence of this song
The artist suggests that their sorrowful sentiment can be felt in the silence of the night, as represented by the song itself.
Don't trouble your mind whatever you do
The singer reiterates their advice to their lost lover, imploring them not to worry or be burdened by their separation.
'Cause he got me like he got you
The artist notes that they also feel the pain of separation, implying that their departed lover still holds a place in their heart.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jim Rushing, J. J. Cale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kitgreen2879
Cajun moon, where does your power lie
As you move across the southern sky
You took my babe way too soon
What have you done, Cajun moon
Someday babe, when you want your man
And you find him gone, just like the wind
Don't trouble your mind whatever you do
'Cause Cajun moon took him from you
When daylight fades, the night comes on
You can hear the silence of this song
Don't trouble your mind whatever you do
'Cause he got me like he got you
@Joe_Bianco
Cajun moon
Where does your power lie
As you move
Across the southern sky
You took my babe
Way too soon
What have you done
Cajun moon
Someday babe
When you want your man
And you find him gone
Just like the wind
Don't trouble your mind
Whatever you do
'Cause Cajun moon
Took him from you
Cajun moon
Where does your power lie
As you move
Across the southern sky
You took my babe
Way too soon
What have you done
Cajun moon
When daylight fades
The night comes on
You can hear the silence
Of this song
Don't trouble your mind
Whatever you do
'Cause he got me
Like he got you
Cajun moon
Where does your power lie
As you move
Across the southern sky
You took my babe
Way too soon
What have you done
Cajun moon
@martinspencer366
This bloke is rarely mentioned in the pantheon of great song writers. He's near the top, just brilliant.
@shamrocklover9157
Really incredible! His music needs 2-3 organs. And JJ of course.. Doctor of the souls 🙏 Rest in peace
@damirdelic2162
I am 57 and I have been listening to JJ music since my teen age, thank you JJ for great songs and music you left behond.
@rhondadean5455
Amen. Me as well. Danced my legs lean and mean to J.J. Timeless.
@birillibre1689
I live in balkan europe now im 27 and about 20 years ago my father introduced me to jj cale’s music and ever since then i keep coming back always
@darrencurtin2386
I'm fascinated how music travels all over the world and is past down from generations. Good music is good music universally. Peace and love from an Irish JJ Cale fan
@yungghost5889
The only problem with this song is that it’s too short it’s so smooth! I have to play it at least twice before moving on to the next song!
@CoreyLarson-ov2rx
solid observation. and very true. the funk get's real, get's a little phishy
@mainsblanches8793
Always to short with JJ!!...
@mindsharping
I was feeling bad about having it on repeat on spotify; I'm no kiddy any longer. So yes at least twice! A mesmerizing piece of music, really beautiful.