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.
New Orleans
J.J. Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord, lord, them crazy queens
Crying the blues is what they do down there
Fortune teller, he knows your name
Fortune teller, he'll tell you your game
Crying the blues, that's what they do down there
Money dripping from a willow tree
He never want me
Just biding my time
If I find a way to choose
New Orleans, where they're crying the blues
Drinking bourbon from a dixie cup
Hanging out till the sun comes up
Crying the blues is what they do down there
French women, all I need
Up and down old Bourbon Street
Crying the blues is what they do down there
If I find a way to choose
New Orleans, where they're singing the blues
The lyrics to J.J. Cale's song "New Orleans" describe the unique and vibrant atmosphere of the city of New Orleans. The song paints a picture of the city through its colorful and eccentric inhabitants, from the "crazy queens" to the fortune tellers who seem to know everyone's name and game. The mood of the song is melancholic, with the singer lamenting his lack of wealth and direction in life. He is simply "biding his time" and longing for a way to join the ranks of those who are "crying the blues" in New Orleans.
The song also captures the essence of New Orleans nightlife, with references to drinking bourbon from "dixie cup" and partying all night until "the sun comes up." The city's famous Bourbon Street is mentioned, as well as the allure of French women. The overall tone of the song is nostalgic, with the singer yearning to be a part of the city's rich cultural tapestry.
One interesting aspect of the song is that it was actually written by Randy Newman, who is more well-known as a singer-songwriter himself. J.J. Cale's version of "New Orleans" was released on his 1973 album "Really," and the song became one of his most enduring hits. The song has also been covered by various other artists over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever been down to New Orleans
Have you visited the city of New Orleans before?
Lord, lord, them crazy queens
Referring to the eccentric locals residing in the city.
Crying the blues is what they do down there
Blues music is a common theme in the city, with locals frequently expressing their emotions through the genre.
Fortune teller, he knows your name
A reference to the numerous fortune tellers located in New Orleans, who claim to be able to predict people's futures.
Fortune teller, he'll tell you your game
The fortune teller is able to reveal an individual's fate or destiny in life.
Money dripping from a willow tree
Suggesting the city's abundant wealth and prosperity.
He never want me
Despite this prosperity, the singer is impoverished and unable to access the financial benefits of the city.
Lazy bones, I ain't got a dime
The artist is jobless and broke, unable to make a living in the city.
Just biding my time
Waiting for something to happen or for an opportunity to arise.
If I find a way to choose
If the artist is able to make a decision or find a way to improve their situation.
New Orleans, where they're crying the blues
Considering New Orleans as a place to go to take part in the deeply emotional and expressive culture of blues music that permeates the city.
Drinking bourbon from a dixie cup
A reference to the city's famous alcoholic beverage and the locals' love for it.
Hanging out till the sun comes up
Partying until dawn.
French women, all I need
An admiration for the beauty and allure of French women who can be found in New Orleans.
Up and down old Bourbon Street
Referring to the famous street in New Orleans known for its lively nightlife and music scene.
If I find a way to choose
Reiterating that the artist is considering making a change or seeking a better life in the city of New Orleans.
New Orleans, where they're singing the blues
Emphasizing the city's reputation as a music-driven town where blues music is performed and appreciated by the natives and visitors alike.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN J CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind