Mama He's Crazy
JJ Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Crazy mama, where you been so long?
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
Lord have mercy, can I see,





that crazy mama coming back to me?
Crazy mama, where you been so long?

Overall Meaning

In "Crazy Mama," JJ Cale and Leon Russell are talking to the titular character, a woman who has been absent for an extended period. The singer implores her to come back as they apparently need her presence in their lives. The singer's tone is melancholic, and they sound like they are genuinely missing her. Throughout the song, they can be seen searching for her on the streets and they appear to be in a desperate need to reunite with her.


The song comprises a melodic jazz piano and blues guitar, producing a laid-back, almost lazy rhythm. JJ Cale's distinctive voice has a subtle, calming effect on the listener. The lyrics of the song are straightforward, easy to understand, and deliver a considerable impact. "Crazy Mama" has a touch of melancholia, but it's also infused with a sense of hopefulness - the idea that the character would return to the singer's life.


Line by Line Meaning

Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Asking where the woman in question has been and expressing a longing for her presence.


Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Repeating the question, emphasizing the absence of the woman and the desire for her to return.


You've been hiding out, I know that's true
Speculating that the woman has been deliberately avoiding the singer and highlighting the feeling of frustration that results from this behavior.


Crazy mama, I sure need you
Expressing a strong desire for the woman's company, indicating that the artist feels incomplete or unhappy without her.


Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Positioning the artist in a specific location, hinting at the idea that he has actively been searching for the woman, suggesting that his feelings are urgent.


Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Repeating the previous line, signaling the persistence of the singer's search and sense of longing.


Lord have mercy, can I see,
Eliciting a sense of desperation, with the singer calling on a higher power to help him in his search for the woman.


that crazy mama coming back to me?
Confirming that the woman is indeed the subject of the search and expressing a desire to be reunited with her.


Crazy mama, where you been so long?
Repeating the refrain, underscoring the central theme of the song: the desire to be reunited with the woman in question.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN J CALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions