Crazy Mama
J.J. Cale featuring Leon Russell Lyrics
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Crazy mama, where you been so long?
You've been hiding out, I know that's true
Crazy mama, I sure need you
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
that crazy mama coming back to me?
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
The song "Crazy Mama" by J.J. Cale and Leon Russell is a bluesy, soulful tune with lyrics that hint at the struggles and frustrations of being in a rocky, unstable relationship. The singer of the song is calling out to his partner - the "crazy mama" - who has been absent for some time, asking where she's been and expressing a desperate need for her return.
The lyrics suggest that the relationship has been tumultuous and perhaps even abusive, with the singer implying that the "crazy mama" has been "hiding out" to avoid confrontation or conflict. Despite this, he still desires her presence and longs for her to come back to him. The repetition of the question "where you been so long?" underscores the sense of longing and the frustration that comes with waiting for someone who may never return.
Ultimately, the song captures the complexities of love and relationships, particularly those that are fraught with tension and difficulty. It suggests that even in the midst of conflict and turmoil, we often crave the companionship and closeness of those we love, even if that love is complicated and challenging.
Line by Line Meaning
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Asking a woman who has been absent from his life for a long time where she has been all these years.
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Repeating the same question he asked earlier to emphasize his curiosity about the woman's absence.
You've been hiding out, I know that's true
Assuming the woman has been hiding from him, and expressing certainty about it.
Crazy mama, I sure need you
Expressing how much he needs the woman in his life and how much he missed her.
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Echoing the same question a third time to show how desperate he is to know where the woman has been hiding.
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Describing how the man has been standing outside, looking for the woman in the hopes of bumping into her.
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Repeating the previous line to show how determined the man is to find the woman.
Lord have mercy, can I see,
Praying to God to help him see the woman again in order to reunite with her.
that crazy mama coming back to me?
Hoping that the woman he's been searching for is the same person that is returning to him.
Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Concluding the song by restating the same question he asked at the beginning, indicating that he still hasn't found the woman he's been looking for.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN J CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind