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.
Money talks
J.J. Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Money talks, says strange things
Money talks very loudly
You'd be surprised the friends
You can buy with small change
They say it's the root of all evil
They say gold is the king
Money talks, you'd better believe it
Rich people, hear those pockets jingle
Spare change, hear the down-and-outers cry
Money talks, tip-toe up behind you
Steal what they can,
Off the cuff or on the sly
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks
The lyrics of J.J. Cale's "Money Talks" explores the theme of the power of money and the things it can buy, including people's loyalty and friendship. The song presents money as a force that speaks for itself, an entity that can tell a story and reveal things that are often strange and surprising. Money is depicted as speaking loudly and being able to buy small little things that can make a big difference to people's lives. The lyrics suggest that money has the power to corrupt, hence the usual phrase that it is the root of all evil. However, it also highlights that riches and gold do not necessarily equate to happiness or fulfillment.
Cale contrasts the lives of the wealthy with that of the poor or down-and-outers. The sound of the rich person's jingling pockets is contrasted with the desperate cries of those who have little. The song suggests that, ultimately, money can lead people to steal and do things either on the cuff or on the sly. By the end, Cale reiterates that money talks and speaks very loudly indeed.
Line by Line Meaning
Money talks, it'll tell you a story
Money is a powerful tool that can reveal the story of your life and status.
Money talks, says strange things
The things people do for money can sometimes seem illogical or unpredictable.
Money talks very loudly
Money has a strong influence and can impact decisions and behavior in a significant way.
You'd be surprised the friends
Money can attract unexpected and opportunistic friendships.
You can buy with small change
Even a small amount of money can have the power to change someone's attitude or loyalty.
They say it's the root of all evil
Money can often be the root cause of conflicts, greed, and immoral behavior.
They say gold is the king
Gold is a symbol of wealth and power in many cultures, and is highly prized above other assets.
Money talks, you'd better believe it
Don't underestimate the power of money and the influence it can have on people and situations.
All that gold don't mean a thing
Although gold is highly valued, it doesn't necessarily bring fulfillment or happiness.
Rich people, hear those pockets jingle
The sound of money can bring a sense of satisfaction or superiority to wealthy individuals.
Spare change, hear the down-and-outers cry
For those who are struggling financially, even a small amount of money can bring relief or hope.
Money talks, tip-toe up behind you
Money can silently influence your decisions or lead you down a certain path without you realizing it.
Steal what they can,
Some people will resort to stealing or unethical behavior to obtain money that they desire.
Off the cuff or on the sly
This can occur in an impulsive or secretive manner, without any real thought or planning.
Money talks
This refrain emphasizes the pervasive and influential nature of money in society.
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHRISTINE MARIE LAKELAND, J.J. CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Maya-hk9tz
Money talks, it'll tell you a story
Money talks, says strange things
Money talks very loudly
You'd be surprised the friends you can buy with small change
They say it's the root of all evil
They say gold is the king
Money talks, you'd better believe it
All that gold don't mean a thing
Rich people, hear those pockets jingle
Spare change, hear the down-and-outers cry
Money talks, tip-toe up behind you
Steal what they can, off the cuff or on the sly
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks
@cannashiva9719
Money talks, it'll tell you a story
Money talks, says strange things
Money talks very loudly
You'd be surprised the friends you can buy with small change
They say it's the root of all evil
They say gold is the king
Money talks, you'd better believe it
**(All that gold don't mean a thing)***
Rich people, hear those pockets jingle
Spare change, hear the down-and-outers cry
Money talks, tip-toe up behind you
Steal what they can, off the cuff or on the sly
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks-----!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@paidpoliticalad
Money talks very loudly
You'd be surprised the friends you can buy with small change
They say it's the root of all evil
They say gold is the king
Money talks, you'd better believe it
All that gold don't mean a thing
Rich people, hear those pockets jingle
Spare change, hear the down-and-outers cry
Money talks, tip-toe up behind you
Steal what they can, off the cuff or on the sly
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks
@er4ikjur
I've been a JJ Cale fan for over 30 years. I blues musician myself (voice, bass and harmonica) I've enjoyed his music thoroghly. He is one-in-a-kind when it comes to his diversity of tempi, his life mirroring lyrics and his pleasant laid-back style. I continue appreciating his music as much as I did the first time I heard it.
@SCACCOMATTO100
I couldn't put it in better words myself, dear friend and fellow bassman.
@rickyjgoody4205
Well said and right there with you since 1971 when "Naturally" was released! 🤟😎
@chandand5740
What an astonishing performer - understated, underrated but always true to his craft
@Luvly2938
King of blues JJ CALE. RIP SIR!
@mariannegraf536
One of the coolest guys in Rock history.R.I.P. J.J.
@Maya-hk9tz
Money talks, it'll tell you a story
Money talks, says strange things
Money talks very loudly
You'd be surprised the friends you can buy with small change
They say it's the root of all evil
They say gold is the king
Money talks, you'd better believe it
All that gold don't mean a thing
Rich people, hear those pockets jingle
Spare change, hear the down-and-outers cry
Money talks, tip-toe up behind you
Steal what they can, off the cuff or on the sly
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks
Money talks
@SCACCOMATTO100
Omg! every single song of JJ e' un capolavoro ! thank you sir, i am keeping your legacy going,playing your tunes gives me so much pleasure,
@mariannegraf536
Christine Lakeland, what a great voice.And a musician.
@jstanthrdaynparadise
R.I.P JJ. you live forever through your music.