JJ Cale (also J.J. Cale), born John Weldon Cale on December 5, 1938, in Okl… Read Full Bio ↴JJ Cale (also J.J. Cale), born John Weldon Cale on December 5, 1938, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and musician. Cale is one of the originators of the Tulsa Sound, a loose genre drawing on blues, rockabilly, country, and jazz influences. Cale's personal style has often been described as "laid back".

His songs have been performed by a number of other musicians including "After Midnight" and "Cocaine" by Eric Clapton, "Bringing It Back" by Kansas, "Call Me the Breeze" and "I Got the Same Old Blues" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, "Travelin' Light" and "Ride Me High" by Widespread Panic.

Cale was born on December 5, 1938, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Some sources incorrectly give his real name as "Jean Jacques Cale". A Sunset Strip nightclub owner employing Cale in the mid-1960s came up with the "JJ" moniker to avoid confusion with the Velvet Underground's John Cale[citation needed]. In the 2006 documentary, To Tulsa and Back: On Tour with J.J. Cale, Rocky Frisco tells the same version of the story mentioning the other John Cale but without further detail.

Call the doctor
JJ Cale Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Somebody call for the doctor,
I think I'm sick
Ain't had my medicine
In over a week
My mind's fine but
My body feels weak
Call the doctor,
I think I'm sick

A shady lady took
All my bread
Ravished my body, lord,
And messed with my head
I don't know but
I've had my fill
Call the doctor
And tell him I'm ill

My money's gone and
I've got no place to go
I don't believe
I've ever felt so low
If you've got the time
While you hang around

Call the doctor
And tell him I'm down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of JJ Cale's "Call the Doctor" describe the singer's dire situation. He pleads for a doctor's assistance, explaining that he hasn't taken his medication in over a week and his body feels weak. He, however, claims that his mind is fine, but he needs a doctor's help. The song mentions a "shady lady" that took all of his money and ravished his body. He's at his lowest point in his life and has no money, nowhere to go, and feels utterly defeated. The singer has no other option but to call a doctor for help.

The song's lyrics suggest that the singer might be struggling with addiction or some other ailment. Perhaps he became involved with a dubious individual who brought him into a world of trouble. The tone of the lyrics, despite the upbeat rhythm, is melancholic and suggests that the singer's situation is dire. Despite the familiar themes, the song retains a unique quality, as only JJ Cale can perform.

Line by Line Meaning

Somebody call for the doctor,
Asking someone to contact a medical professional for assistance regarding their deteriorating health.

I think I'm sick
Feeling unwell and in need of medical attention.

Ain't had my medicine
Hasn't taken the prescribed medication for more than a week.

In over a week
A week has passed since taking the medication.

My mind's fine but
While mentally fine, there is a physical issue that is concerning the individual.

My body feels weak
Experiencing a general feeling of fatigue and lack of physical strength.

Call the doctor,
Urging someone to immediately seek medical assistance for the individual.

I think I'm sick
Expressing concern that their condition is becoming worse or more severe.

A shady lady took
A woman with suspicious or dubious intentions stole something from them.

All my bread
All the money that they had saved or earned.

Ravished my body, lord,
Implies that the woman mentioned earlier had a negative impact on their physical health by presumably being deceitful or dishonest with them.

And messed with my head
Suggests that the individual has been manipulated and has received emotional damage from the aforementioned woman.

I don't know but
Expressing uncertainty regarding a decision or feeling.

I've had my fill
The individual has reached a limit to an experience or circumstance that they no longer wish to endure.

Call the doctor
Reiterating the urgency of seeking professional medical help.

And tell him I'm ill
Informing the person on the phone that medical intervention is necessary due to a severe physical issue.

My money's gone and
The individual is now penniless and lacks the necessary resources to live comfortably.

I've got no place to go
Lacking a home, place of employment or any destination to seek refuge.

I don't believe
Expressing a lack of confidence or faith in the current situation or state of mind.

I've ever felt so low
Feeling down or depressed, at perhaps a historically low point in their life.

If you've got the time
Asking a person if they have an extra moment or time to spare for the benefit of the individual.

While you hang around
Asking the person to patiently linger while they initiate the process of seeking help.

Call the doctor
Reiterating the previous request for immediate medical assistance.

And tell him I'm down
Informing the person on the phone of a distressing situation that involves physical or emotional turmoil.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: JOHN J CALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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