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.
Nobody Knows
J.J. Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scattered to the wind, I don't know
Things that we trust could crumble into dust
No one can really say it ain't so
When you go over a mountain
When you're looking down the road
When you think you're going backwards
It's all in vain, it seems insane
If our actions seem in doubt
By the way we move about
Seems like we're always on the run
Our mark is just a scratch
Like holding up a match
And trying to see the burn against the sun
When we're going over a mountain
When we're looking down the road
If you think you're going backwards
It's all in vain, it seems insane
When you ask, nobody knows
When all our days are gone
You can catch us with a song
Something that seemed almost right
We've known love and joy
Eternity's been our toy
Something to play with in the night
When we're going over a mountain
When we're looking down the road
If you think you're going backwards
It's all in vain, it seems insane
When you ask, nobody knows
When I go over my mountain
When I'm looking down the road
If I think I'm going backwards
It's all in vain, it seems insane
When I ask, nobody knows
The lyrics of J.J. Cale's song Nobody Knows touch upon the ephemeral nature of life, how people's words and actions could ultimately be meaningless and uncertain. The song conveys the idea that despite people's constant movement and desire to progress, there is a sense of futility and uncertainty that pervades our existence. The opening lines suggest that the words people say could be lies someday and the things they trust could crumble into dust. The singer seems to be wrestling with existential questions and trying to make sense of the inconsistencies and uncertainties of life.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that nobody truly knows the answers to life's questions. Regardless of where one stands in life or what challenges they face, there is a sense that nobody has all the answers. The song paints a picture of people trying to make sense of their existence and trying to find meaning in a world that often seems chaotic and unfathomable. The lyrics suggest that love and joy are fleeting moments that exist for brief periods before fading away. Ultimately, the song conveys a sense of acceptance of life's uncertainties, urging the listener to embrace the journey and make the most of their time.
Line by Line Meaning
Words that we say could all be lies someday
The words we speak may not always be true and can change over time.
Scattered to the wind, I don't know
The truth can be elusive and difficult to grasp, like something that has been blown away by the wind.
Things that we trust could crumble into dust
The things we believe in and depend on may not last forever and can fall apart without warning.
No one can really say it ain't so
We cannot guarantee that things will not change or fall apart.
When you go over a mountain
When we face difficult challenges or obstacles in life.
When you're looking down the road
When we contemplate the future and its uncertainties.
When you think you're going backwards
When it feels like we are not making progress, or even moving backwards in life.
It's all in vain, it seems insane
Our efforts may seem pointless and crazy when we do not know what the future holds.
When you ask, nobody knows
There may not be an answer or explanation to the uncertainties and mysteries of life.
If our actions seem in doubt
If our deeds and decisions are questioned and uncertain.
By the way we move about
Through the way we act and behave in the world.
Seems like we're always on the run
Life can often feel like a never-ending chase or pursuit, with no rest or respite.
Our mark is just a scratch
Our legacy or impact on the world may be small or insignificant, like a mere scratch on the surface.
Like holding up a match
Trying to see something clearly or understand it fully, but only seeing a small part of it.
And trying to see the burn against the sun
Attempting to comprehend or perceive something that is too bright or intense for us to fully grasp.
When all our days are gone
At the end of our lives.
You can catch us with a song
Memories and emotions can be captured and remembered through music.
Something that seemed almost right
The things we remember and cherish may not have been perfect or ideal, but they still hold value and meaning to us.
We've known love and joy
Our experiences have included moments of happiness and connection with others.
Eternity's been our toy
Our lives may seem small and fleeting, but we have been able to experience and play with concepts like eternity and infinity in our imaginations and emotions.
Something to play with in the night
The mysteries and uncertainties of life and the universe can be a source of fascination and inspiration, even in the darkest moments.
When I go over my mountain
When I face my own challenges and obstacles in life.
When I'm looking down the road
When I try to contemplate the future and what lies ahead.
If I think I'm going backwards
If I feel like I am not making progress, or even regressing, in my life or goals.
It's all in vain, it seems insane
My efforts and actions may seem pointless or even crazy when faced with uncertainties and unknowns.
When I ask, nobody knows
There may not be any clear answers or explanations to the mysteries and uncertainties of life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: J J CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
honouryourvomit
JJ will live forever through his music
spiritual lover II
♥️
Vera Lucia Pinto Rios
Maravilhoso!!!
Kevin Sawyer
Life is a work. My woman is my lover & best friend.