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 be there
J.J. Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I look at you
You
And I don't mean to be sappy
You make my sky turn blue
Blue
Pure as the driving snow
(Snow)
Go
(Yeah)
Love like the sun rays shine
(No)
So glad to call you mine
Mine
(No)
I'll Be There
Be there when you're sad and lonely
I'll Be There
Be there when you're cold and tired
I'll Be There
Honey, you can hold your head up
I'll Be There
Honey, never let you go
Never let you go
I'll Be There
Don't you know we fit together
One and one make two
(Two)
You light my way
You light my way
Like the stars and Moon
(Moon)
Pure as the driving snow
(Snow)
I can't let this go
Go
(Yeah)
Love like the sun rays shine
(No)
So glad to call you mine
Mine
(No)
I'll Be There
Be there when you're sad and lonely
(I'm here for you)
I'll Be There
Be there when you're cold and tired
(I won't leave you)
I'll Be There
Honey, you can hold your head up
(Don't give on me, girl)
I'll Be There
Honey, never let you go
Never let you go
I'll Be There
Pure as the driving snow
(Snow)
I can't let this go
Go
(Yeah)
Love like the sun rays shine
(No)
So glad to call you mine
Mine
(No)
I'll Be There
Be there when you're sad and lonely
I'll Be There
Be there when you're cold and tired
I'll Be There
Honey, you can hold your head up
I'll Be There
Honey, never let you go
Never let you go
I'll Be There
Be there when you're sad and lonely
I'll Be There
Be there when you're cold and tired
I'll Be There
Honey, you can hold your head up
I'll Be There
Honey, never let you go
Never let you go
I'll Be There
In "I'll Be There," J.J. Cale expresses his affection for someone special in his life. He sings about how this person brings joy and happiness to him, making his sky turn blue. The comparison of his happiness to the color blue is interesting because traditionally blue is considered to be a sad color. However, he is describing a different kind of blue - one that represents clarity, peace, and positivity.
The repetition of the line, "Pure as the driving snow, I can't let this go," emphasizes the purity and sincerity of his emotions. He values this relationship and cannot imagine letting it go. The analogy to snow is interesting because snow is often associated with purity and innocence.
Cale promises to be there for this person in times of need. He repeatedly sings the line, "I'll Be There," thereby assuring his loved one of constant support and companionship. He says that he will never let this person go, which emphasizes the depth of his commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
True, it makes me happy
I genuinely feel joy and contentment when I am with you
When I look at you
Simply gazing upon you brings me happiness
You
Referring to the person who is the subject of the song
And I don't mean to be sappy
I am aware that my feelings may come across as overly sentimental or mushy
You make my sky turn blue
You bring color and brightness to my life, like a clear blue sky
Pure as the driving snow
Your love is pure and untainted, like freshly fallen snow
(Snow)
Further emphasis on the purity and innocence of your love
I can't let this go
My feelings for you are too strong to be dismissed or ignored
Go
Reiterating that I cannot let my feelings for you fade away
(Yeah)
A filler phrase without significant meaning
Love like the sun rays shine
Your love is warm and radiant, like the sun's rays
(No)
A filler word without significant meaning
So glad to call you mine
I am incredibly happy and lucky to have you in my life
(No)
A filler word without significant meaning
I'll Be There
I will always be there for you
Be there when you're sad and lonely
I will be there to comfort you when you are feeling down
Honey, you can hold your head up
I will support and encourage you to stay strong and confident
Honey, never let you go
I will never abandon or let go of you
Never let you go
Reiterating that I will never leave your side
Don't you know we fit together
We are perfect for each other, like two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly
One and one make two
Together, we make a complete and harmonious couple
(Two)
Further emphasizing that we are meant to be together
You light my way
You guide me and bring clarity to my life
Like the stars and Moon
You shine brightly and beautifully in my life, like the stars and the moon
I'm here for you
Reiterating that I will always be there for you
I won't leave you
Reassuring you that I will never abandon you
Don't give on me, girl
Encouraging you to never give up, and assuring you that I will always be there to support you
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Harold Hayward, Michael Townsend II
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matt Levitch
Pure bliss. I wish this song was an hour long.
Kimmo Kananen
Never fail good mood medicine, like comfort food such as spaghetti and meat sauce: JJ delivers. This is called music, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Haldun Targan
A musician's musician passed from this planet..Thanks for his music which gives so much pleasure to us.RIP.
Kimmo Kananen
A true artist - stroke of an Artist.
tom wray
Saw JJ play the Kachina Lodge Lounge in Taos, NM a couple of times. Staggered out of the place the last time I saw him at dawn's early light. Guy played all night. No one left. Unbelievable.
William Fever
You are lucky to share a story like this...
Thanks for sharing it, music friend : )
TheSporehacker
+tom wray You're a lucky guy. Music and talent like this is hard to find these days.
Christophe Monfort
I have this album in original tape (yes , tapes still exist!). This song is one of my favourites, still after 30 years. JJ cale is one who has greatly influenced my musical taste. I think that''s why I love so much blues and country, and maybie also jazz. I met JJ Cale first. First Album I met was Okie. Maybie not the most popular, but I have still a soft feeling about it, like a first love reminder. And this song is really reminding me ...
Marianne Menon
I agree with Dr1ummer...JJ Cale's music always puts me in a good mood too!! Thank you for a great share!!
AgTigress
J.J. was unique.