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.
Where the Sun Don't Shine
J.J. Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes I've heard, that one before.
Same thing, same news.
You treat me like a fool
That you can use.
Let me tell you,
"you can put it right there
Where the sun don't shine"
I ain't lying.
"Where the sun
Don't shine".
You can take this,
Put it away,
Or you can use it,
Another day
Just remember, keep this in mind
"you can put it right there
Where the sun don't shine"
Last time I seen you,
You was on my back.
Been so many times,
I can't keep track
You play rough'
You know it's true
I've got some information'
Just for you.
You can talk to me,
N you will find:
"You can put it right there,
Where the sun don't shine"
I ain't lying
"Where the sun don't shine!"
The lyrics of J.J. Cale's 'Where the Sun Don't Shine' depict a situation of a person being constantly used and treated poorly by their lover. The song begins with the singer being told that their lover doesn't love them anymore, but the singer has heard it before and it's the same old thing. The lover treats the singer like a fool that can be easily used. The singer states that he won't be kind and tells the lover that they can put it where the sun don't shine. This phrase is used as a way of saying that the person doesn't care about the lover's words or actions anymore and wants nothing to do with them.
Later, the song reveals that this is not the first time that this has happened. The singer has been used before and doesn't want to be used anymore, regardless of whether the lover takes the advice or not. The lyrics also reveal that the lover has been physically rough with the singer, but the singer is not scared to confront them. The song ends with the singer telling the lover that they can talk to him, but to remember that they can put their words where the sun doesn't shine.
Overall, the lyrics of 'Where the Sun Don't Shine' depict a person who is tired of being used and hurt by their lover. They are standing up for themselves and telling the lover that their actions and words will no longer affect them. It's a song of empowerment and refusing to be treated poorly in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You told me, you didn't love me no mo!
You informed me that your affection for me has vanished.
Yes I've heard, that one before.
I have received similar news in the past.
Same thing, same news.
Pertaining to your recent disclosure, it's nothing new.
You treat me like a fool
That you can use.
Your actions suggest that you view me as gullible and expendable.
Let me tell you,
I wont be kind:
Allow me to convey that my response shall not be pleasant.
"you can put it right there
Where the sun don't shine"
You have the option to place the subject in a very uncomfortable location.
I ain't lying.
My message is truthful and sincere.
"Where the sun
Don't shine".
The undesirable destination in question is a place that lacks sunlight.
You can take this,
Put it away,
Or you can use it,
Another day
You may either discard this information or save it for future use.
Just remember, keep this in mind
"you can put it right there
Where the sun don't shine"
It is imperative that you do not forget the option to place the subject in an unpleasant location.
Last time I seen you,
You was on my back.
Been so many times,
I can't keep track
During our last interaction, you were a burden and this has happened repeatedly.
You play rough',
You know it's true
I've got some information',
Just for you.
Your approach is aggressive, and I have some pertinent data to share with you.
You can talk to me,
N you will find:
"You can put it right there,
Where the sun don't shine"
In your future interactions with me, you may remember the option to place the subject in an unpleasant location.
I ain't lying
"Where the sun don't shine!"
I reiterate that my message is truthful and sincere, regardless of the undesirable location in question.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J.J. CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
offthebridle
Even when he used d/machines, it still had that amazing FUNK & feel..play on JJ..!
茶
For real
茶
Intro just really fit, damn, master.
IAN MORTON
Always thought this was a Scottish expression, how did it get to Tulsa ? This one sums up JJC music.
Barry Butter
Indeed
Rodney Manica
I love jj cale
Snowgoose
You should hear this by Andy Fairweather Lowe and the Low Riders....its sensational!!!
Peggy Cheney
AWESOME! MY LIFE @ THIS VERY MOMENT!! XO
Julie Swiss
👍
Vera Lucia Pinto Rios
Maravilhoso!!!