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.
Goin' Down
J.J. Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chilling in a vibe with the squad yea it's going down
I don't know the time but on God it is going down
Hit you on the dial make you smile yea going down
Going down
Going down
Going down
Going down
Get you to the spot yea it's going down
Nah it don't really matter
We don't need the chit chatter
Baby we can go slow or baby I can make it faster now
Nah I ain't here for all that capping nah
Yea I been drinking on that Captain ah
So tell me if I shoot my shot can a nigga come thru and make it bounce like a basketball
Yea yea yea girl lemme see what that thing do
Give it so good make you sing too
From the back all you see is them ankles aw ooh yea
Imma go in rearrange you
Imma make it worth the wait boo
You tell me that you like it when I make you aw ooh yea
Now you sitting with your mind blown
Going so long I don't know where the times gone
You can sleep over you ain't gotta drive home
And I can hold you in my arms all night long
Turn you over rub your body to the right song
You ain't never had nobody do it right no
Let's do it right now
Out on 95 look outside sun is going down
Chilling in a vibe with the squad yea it's going down
I don't know the time but on God it is going down
Hit you on the dial make you smile yea going down
Going down
Going down
Going down
Going down
If you wanna ride bet it's going down
Get you to the spot yea it's going down
Imma have you loving lil shit you never thought you would do
I'm tryna keep the lights on but dim em down if it's cool
And yea we just finished but I'm down for round number 2
You should'a knew that this was coming when you round me but you
Was playing games
Day to day
You made a way
To get yo ass over here late at night now you staying late
And now Imma make you say my name
Running round every base
Yea we stay awake
And now I see in your eyes your excited (Gah damn)
So when you come you don't need no invite yea (Gah damn)
And once I get that text ooh is that time yea (Gah damn)
Cause girl the things you do keep me alive yea
Get my heart racing
Know you wanna take it
Girl I'm on ya ass like them fucking car chases
Stop
Imma pace it
Getting back to it now you tell me that you made it
Stop
Girl you dangerous
Getting back on and then you ride it like you race it
Stop
It's amazing
Go to sleep wake up and we back on the same shit
Out on 95 look outside sun is going down
Chilling in a vibe with the squad yea it's going down
I don't know the time but on God it is going down
Hit you on the dial make you smile yea going down
Going down
Going down
Going down
Going down
If you wanna ride bet it's going down
Get you to the spot yea it's going down
The lyrics of "Goin' Down" by J.J. Cale describe a relaxed and carefree atmosphere, where the singer and his friends are just hanging out and enjoying the moment. The song starts with a description of the setting: they are on the highway, watching the sun setting, and getting ready for a good time with their group. The lyrics then explain the singer's intentions: he wants to please his companion, to make her feel good, and to indulge in physical pleasure. He does not care about talking or wasting time with meaningless conversation; he just wants to have fun and share an intimate moment together.
The lyrics then talk about the singer's skills in satisfying his partner's needs, both physically and mentally. He is confident in his abilities to provide pleasure, and he compliments his partner on her enthusiasm and energy. The song ends on a positive note, with the singer expressing his satisfaction and contentment with the relationship and the moment they share.
Line by Line Meaning
Out on 95 look outside sun is going down
Driving on highway 95, looking out the window and realizing that the sun is setting
Chilling in a vibe with the squad yea it's going down
Relaxing in a comfortable atmosphere with friends and enjoying the moment
I don't know the time but on God it is going down
Not being aware of the time, but realizing that something exciting is happening soon
Hit you on the dial make you smile yea going down
Calling someone and making them happy, indicating that something fun is going to happen soon
Going down
Repeating the phrase to emphasize that something exciting will happen soon
If you wanna ride bet it's going down
If you want to join us, it is guaranteed that something exciting will happen
Get you to the spot yea it's going down
Bringing someone to the location and confirming that something fun is happening there
Nah it don't really matter
Ignoring the insignificant details
We don't need the chit chatter
Not interested in idle talk, just focused on having fun
Baby we can go slow or baby I can make it faster now
Offering the option to take things slowly or speed them up, depending on what the other person wants
Nah I ain't here for all that capping nah
Not interested in deception or dishonesty
Yea I been drinking on that Captain ah
Indicating that the artist has been drinking Captain Morgan rum
So tell me if I shoot my shot can a nigga come thru and make it bounce like a basketball
Asking whether the singer will be successful in his advances, and indicating that he can perform well in the bedroom
Yea yea yea girl lemme see what that thing do
Expressing interest in the girl's sexual abilities and wanting to find out more
Give it so good make you sing too
Promising to provide such a pleasurable experience that the girl will be vocal about it
From the back all you see is them ankles aw ooh yea
Describing a sexual position and expressing excitement about it
Imma go in rearrange you
Suggesting that the artist will use his sexual expertise to pleasure the girl in a unique way
Imma make it worth the wait boo
Promising to make the girl's wait worth it by providing a great sexual experience
You tell me that you like it when I make you aw ooh yea
Acknowledging that the girl likes the singer's sexual techniques
Now you sitting with your mind blown
Indicating that the girl is overwhelmed with pleasure
Going so long I don't know where the times gone
Having lost track of time because the sexual experience has been prolonged
You can sleep over you ain't gotta drive home
Offering the girl the option to stay the night instead of having to drive home
And I can hold you in my arms all night long
Expressing a desire to hold the girl close all night
Turn you over rub your body to the right song
Suggesting that the artist wants to provide sensual pleasure beyond sex as well
You ain't never had nobody do it right no
Asserting that the singer is the best the girl has ever had
Let's do it right now
Inviting the girl to engage in sexual activity
Imma have you loving lil shit you never thought you would do
Promising to make the girl enjoy things she never knew she would
I'm tryna keep the lights on but dim em down if it's cool
Preferring to keep the lights on, but willing to adjust to the girl's preferences
And yea we just finished but I'm down for round number 2
Indicating that the artist wants to engage in sexual activity again
You should'a knew that this was coming when you round me but you
Implying that the girl should have expected to engage in sexual activity with the singer
Was playing games
Acknowledging that the girl might have been playing hard-to-get games with the singer
Day to day
Repeating a phrase to indicate the routine nature of the girl's life without the artist
You made a way
Acknowledging that the girl found a way to be with the artist despite her routine life
To get yo ass over here late at night now you staying late
Indicating that the girl made the effort to come see the artist at night and is now prolonging her stay
And now Imma make you say my name
Asserting that the singer will provide such a pleasurable experience that the girl will call out his name
Running round every base
Using a metaphor to imply that the artist and girl are engaging in sexual activity of various kinds
Yea we stay awake
Acknowledging that the singer and girl are staying up all night engaging in sexual activity
And now I see in your eyes your excited (Gah damn)
Expressing that the girl is aroused and excited for more sexual activity
So when you come you don't need no invite yea (Gah damn)
Suggesting that the girl is always welcome to come over and engage in sexual activity
And once I get that text ooh is that time yea (Gah damn)
Expressing excitement at receiving a text from the girl indicating interest in sexual activity
Cause girl the things you do keep me alive yea
Acknowledging that the girl's sexual abilities are stimulating and rejuvenating for the artist
Get my heart racing
Implying that the girl excites the singer
Know you wanna take it
Acknowledging that the girl is interested in engaging in sexual activity with the singer
Girl I'm on ya ass like them fucking car chases
Using a metaphor to imply that the artist is relentlessly pursuing sexual activity with the girl
Imma pace it
Suggesting that the artist will take things slow and steady to provide maximum pleasure
Getting back to it now you tell me that you made it
Implying that the girl has had an intense orgasm and is satisfied
Girl you dangerous
Acknowledging that the girl is skilled and confident in sexual activity
Getting back on and then you ride it like you race it
Describing the intensity with which the girl engages in sexual activity
Stop
Using a word to indicate a break in the flow of lyrics
It's amazing
Using a word to describe the intensity and pleasure of sexual activity
Go to sleep wake up and we back on the same shit
Indicating that the singer and girl will continue their sexual relationship in the future
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Jeremiah Maltez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paul Springett
Yeah, I'm going down...
Going down, down, down, down, down
I'm going down....
Going down, down, down, down, down
Got my big feet in the window
And my head hanging on the ground
Don't let me down,
close that boxcar down
Don't let me down,
close that boxcar down
Well, I'm goin' back to Chattanooga
And sleep on sister Irene's floor
K C
What a great song!! How did he get that great shuffle and piercing guitar licks so right so often!! Unique sound.
weltweit-in-berlin Roswitha Schäfer-Neubauer
Couldn't live without the sound and the rhythm and the philosophy of JJCALE...my love..!
chris stackhouse
I still cant believe JJ has left us, this is one of my favourite vinyl albums of his.......
ontariobuds
Are you Saul?
Slipping Jimmy
Reading your comment back I haven't quite replied properly, but you get my drift I'm sure!
Slipping Jimmy
chris stackhouse to be fair, not just his. This is better than most albums out there. In my humble opinion of course!
Robert Shaefer
The Best Original version! Many good ones but this is STILL the best.
Sander Frijters
one of the best ... after 1 min 20... ritme / body takes over :-)
Vera Lucia Pinto Rios
Maravilhoso ❤
DEBBIE L
saw him twice,,, not enough, I was listening to jj cale while all my friends were listening to peter frampton, not 2 say hes not a good musician, but I preferred my old hippie group,,,lol,,,,,,,,i fell in love with JJ CALE!,,,,,,,R.I.P. HEAVEN MUST ROCK!