Kay Kay and the Rays is a Texas band playing their own music in the rhythm … Read Full Bio ↴Kay Kay and the Rays is a Texas band playing their own music in the rhythm and blues/soul tradition with funk and jazz influences. Formed in 1999, they have appeared with Little Milton, Mel Waiters, Eddie Kirkland, U. P. Wilson, James Armstrong, and ex-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor. Kay Kay has made guest appearances with Johnny Rawls and the Rays rhythm section has backed him. Johnny Rawls produced and appears on the new album Texas Justice.

The band released its first CD "Lucky Seven" in 2000. This self-produced CD received great reviews in the United States and the UK. The second CD, "Texas Justice" was released nationally March 1, 2002 by OarFin Records. It is on Johnny Rawls new label Deep South Sound. It is on the top 25 of many blues radio playlists in the U.S. and Canada and is receiving rave reviews. Kay Kay Greenwade has a Gospel background. Her brother was a member of the vocal group, the Velvets. She was persuaded to join the band after she was heard singing at a funeral.

The Rays are a veteran group of musicians. Jeff Eads and Andy Roman were front men for their own groups. Alan Hanna and Robert Hinds have music degrees and Richie Puga and Dan Ferguson were music majors who left school to go on the road. Andy Roman led his band, Andy Roman and the Roman Brothers on the West Coast and the Las Vegas circuit for years before returning to West Texas. Bob Trenchard was in the Midwest r&b band, The Mods, when they had their regional hit "Dry My Eyes". When in Austin, he played and recorded with guitar legend Eric Johnson early in his career.

Jeff Eads and Kay Kay have both been featured in Southwest Blues articles in the past year. Kay Kay and The Rays basic unit is Kay Kay Greenwade (vocals), Jeff Eads (guitar, vocals, harp), Bob Trenchard (bass), Dan Ferguson (keyboards), Richie Puga (drums) and Andy Roman (sax). Alan Hanna and Robert Hinds, trumpet players, are also members of The Rays. Kay Kay and The Rays can be booked with different line-ups, from five-piece to an eight-piece band. For more information and photos visit www.kaykaysblues.com.

That's The Way It Goes
Kay Kay and the Rays Lyrics

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Heart break yeah again and again
Again and again
That's how it goes
That's how it goes
The streets took us as its children
It's many of our homes
That's how it goes
That's how it goes

I can't get in my feelings
Gotta stay ten toes
That's how it goes
That's how it goes
After all that I've done
My hearts gone cold
That's how it goes
That's how it goes
Gotta stay ten toes
No, no I can't fold
Police always on my door
They say that I'm looking at four
I was down I was broken
But I kept my mind focused
Gotta stay focused
I gotta stay focused
Only trust yourself
You the only one that go be there till the end
Never ask for help
They go use it against you when your by yourself
Never trust no friends
They go switch up when you ain't at your best
Never trust no friends
They finna switch up when you ain't at your best
That's how it goes
That's how it goes
That's how it
Heart break yeah again and again
Again and again
Again and again
Heart break yeah again and again
Again and again
That's how it goes
That's how it goes
The streets took us as its children
It's many of our homes
That's how it goes
That's how it goes
can't get in my feelings
Gotta stay ten toes
That's how it goes
That's how it goes
After all that I've done
My hearts gone cold
That's how it goes
That's how it goes

That's how it goes
That's how it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kay Kay and the Rays' song "That's The Way It Goes" depict a recurring theme of heartbreak and resilience in the face of adversity. The repetition of the phrase "again and again" emphasizes the repetitive nature of heartbreak in life. The streets serve as a metaphor for the challenging environment that the artist and many others have grown up in, as they refer to the streets as their homes. This suggests that they have encountered hardships and struggles in their upbringing.

The artist expresses a need to remain emotionally guarded, as getting too deeply into their feelings leaves them vulnerable. They strive to stay strong and resilient ("gotta stay ten toes") in order to navigate the difficulties they face. The line "After all that I've done, my heart's gone cold" suggests that despite their efforts and accomplishments, they have become emotionally detached, possibly due to the constant disappointments and heartbreaks they have experienced.

The lyrics also touch on the issue of trust, cautioning against relying on others and highlighting the potential for betrayal. The line "Only trust yourself, you're the only one that'll be there till the end" emphasizes the importance of self-reliance. The artist conveys a sense of disappointment and cynicism towards friendships, implying that people may turn their backs when one is not at their best.

Overall, "That's The Way It Goes" acknowledges the recurring nature of heartbreak and adversity in life, while emphasizing the need for self-preservation and resilience in order to navigate through these challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

Heart break yeah again and again
Experiencing heartbreak repeatedly

Again and again
Continuously going through the same cycle

That's how it goes
This is the usual course of events

The streets took us as its children
We grew up in the tough neighborhoods

It's many of our homes
Those streets feel like home to many of us

I can't get in my feelings
I can't allow myself to be emotionally vulnerable

Gotta stay ten toes
I need to stay alert and strong

After all that I've done
Despite everything I've accomplished

My heart's gone cold
My heart has become numb and distant

No, no I can't fold
I can't give up or surrender

Police always on my door
Constant police presence and scrutiny