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.
I'll Make Love To You
J.J. Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't know my left from right
I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time
I can't swim and I can't fly
I ain't no fish, I ain't no bird in the sky
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time
I can't count from one to ten
And I don't know the shape I'm in
I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time
The lyrics of J.J. Cale's song "I'll Make Love to You" demonstrate a carefree and almost childlike attitude towards life and relationships. The singer admits to not having the basic abilities of literacy or physical prowess, suggesting that they may feel inadequate or inferior to society's standards. However, the repetition of the line "I'll make love to you any old time" reveals a deep, instinctual desire for intimacy and connection despite their perceived shortcomings.
The use of the phrase "any old time" reinforces the singer's lack of concern for the details of the situation or for any potential obstacles that may arise. This could be interpreted as a form of escapism or a desire to live in the moment without any anxiety about the future.
Overall, Cale's lyrics convey an unapologetic and honest expression of one's desires and limitations. The simple and straightforward tone of the song adds to its charm and relatability.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't read and I can't write
I lack the basic education that others possess.
And I don't know my left from right
I struggle with distinguishing directions.
I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
I can't predict the weather with any certainty.
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
I'm unsure if you will ever reciprocate my feelings.
But I'll make love to you any old time
Despite my lack of certainty about other things, I am confident in my desire for you.
I can't swim and I can't fly
I lack the physical abilities that many creatures possess.
I ain't no fish, I ain't no bird in the sky
I can't identify with creatures that have those abilities.
I can't count from one to ten
I struggle with basic math skills.
And I don't know the shape I'm in
I'm unsure of my overall state of being.
But I'll make love to you any old time
Despite my shortcomings, I am still passionate about you.
I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
Once again, my ability to predict the weather is limited.
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
I still have doubts about your feelings for me.
But I'll make love to you any old time
Regardless of any uncertainties, I still have strong feelings for you.
Contributed by Allison E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pedrocheJ
I can't read and I can't write
And I don't know my left from right
I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time
I can't swim and I can't fly
I ain't no fish, I ain't no bird in the sky
I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time
I can't count from one to ten
And I don't know the shape I'm in
I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time
@wolfgangmarkusgstrein8522
I can't read and I can't write
And I don't know my left from right
I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time
I can't swim and I can't fly
I ain't no fish, I ain't no bird in the sky
I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time
I can't count from one to ten
And I don't know the shape I'm in
I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time
Okay, now we know! How about beer belly with fat wallet?
@nobbyclark1346
Another amazing JJ Cale song worthy of so much more. The funky jumpy solo is amazing. Blend of riffs during studio dubbing is again his signature specialty ! Miss you ...
@lesleythomson3103
My mother use to play a lot of jj when I was a kid he is in my bones now at 51 great artist
@MrBoudarga
JJ.Cale is one of the greatest musicians who was discreet like the cool breeze! JJ was the breeze that few held! What have we missed you JJ! God Bless
@damirdelic2162
JJ Cale one of the best, hero of his time.Regards to all loving his music from Croatia.
@dlsb1234
Mais um excelente trabalho realizado. Parabéns pelo empenho e dedicação. Sucesso no canal...
@Mike7478F
Gone but never far from my turntable. God bless JJ
@mikerehling
Nothing better than this... The simple life defined...
@maryvette488
One of the Dopest albums I;ve ever heard from start to finish...str8 funk groove.
@esmusat
RIP. My favorite song, it takes me back to my fourteen days, Thanks a lot mr. Cale. Rest in peace.
@pennyzmerope7844
I’ll Make Love To you Anytime - JJ Cale. He’s got his way with words!! Ummm! 💗