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.
One Step Ahead Of The Blues
J.J. Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't need the pain
It's bad for your brain and that's true
I ain't droppin' no names
I ain't playin' no games
I'm just one step ahead of the blues
One step ahead of the blues
From Memphis to Reno
I'll try to come through for you
I won't do you in
I ain't no fairweather friend
I'm just one step ahead of the blues
One step ahead of the blues
I don't rob, I don't steal
I ain't beggin' no meal
I ain't driven to drink, I'm no fool
I don't run with the crowd
I don't talk big and loud
I'm just one step ahead of the blues
One step ahead of the blues
I've been under a spell
I ain't been feelin' well
I've been in a shell, and that's true
Dealin' with a curse
But it couldn't be worse
I've been one step ahead of the blues
One step ahead of the blues
In J.J. Cale's “One Step Ahead Of The Blues”, the singer distances himself from a lifestyle of drugs, crime, and excess, instead choosing to stay one step ahead of the blues. He emphasizes this in the first verse by stating, “I ain't high on cocaine, I don't need the pain, It's bad for your brain and that's true”. He refuses to name-drop or play games, showing that he values honesty and authenticity. The phrase “one step ahead” throughout the song suggests that the blues is always a step behind him, almost as if it's chasing him.
The singer also describes his travels from Memphis to Reno, New York to Tokyo, showing that he's trying to come through for someone or something. He emphasizes his loyalty in the second verse by stating, “I won't do you in, I ain't no fairweather friend, I'm just one step ahead of the blues”. This shows that he's aware of the fickle nature of people and doesn't want to be associated with it. He continuously distances himself from criminal activities, showing that he's not interested in following the crowd.
Finally, the bridge shows that the singer has been under a spell and dealing with a curse, but still manages to be ahead of the blues. This metaphorical curse can represent a number of things, including addiction or depression, however, ultimately the song is about overcoming obstacles and not giving in to negative emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't high on cocaine
I am not under the influence of cocaine
I don't need the pain
I do not need any form of suffering in my life
It's bad for your brain and that's true
Cocaine has negative effects on one's brain and that fact is true
I ain't droppin' no names
I am not revealing any names or identities
I ain't playin' no games
I am not engaging in any manipulative or deceitful activities
I'm just one step ahead of the blues
I am trying to stay ahead of my feelings of sadness and depression
From Memphis to Reno
From the city of Memphis to Reno, a city in Nevada
From New York to Tokyo
From the city of New York to Tokyo, Japan
I'll try to come through for you
I will attempt to be there for you
I won't do you in
I will not harm or betray you
I ain't no fairweather friend
I am not a friend who is only there in good times
I don't rob, I don't steal
I do not engage in theft or robbery
I ain't beggin' no meal
I am not asking for food or charity
I ain't driven to drink, I'm no fool
I am not using alcohol to cope with my problems, I am not foolish
I don't run with the crowd
I do not follow or conform to popular opinion or trends
I don't talk big and loud
I do not brag or speak loudly
I'm just one step ahead of the blues
I am trying to stay ahead of my feelings of sadness and depression
I've been under a spell
I have been under a mystifying or captivating influence
I ain't been feelin' well
I have not been feeling physically or emotionally well
I've been in a shell, and that's true
I have been isolating myself and that fact is true
Dealin' with a curse
I am dealing with a troublesome or difficult situation
But it couldn't be worse
But despite the negative situation, it could be even worse
I've been one step ahead of the blues
I am trying to stay ahead of my feelings of sadness and depression
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROGER TILLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind