RAYE’s debut EP 'Welcome To The Winter' was released in 2014 and was comprised of predominantly R&B sounds. After signing with Polydor Records, RAYE had her breakthrough by featuring on the 2016 singles; "By Your Side" by Jonas Blue and "You Don't Know Me" by Jax Jones. The latter, co-written by RAYE herself, would peak at number three on the UK Singles Chart. Both songs were certified platinum or higher by the BPI, and marked a shift in RAYE’s career both commercially and sonically. After releasing the 'Second' EP in 2016, RAYE released "I, U, Us" as the lead single alongside a Charli XCX directed music video. This marked the first collaboration of several between the British songwriters. RAYE later co-wrote XCX's song "After the Afterparty" and appeared on a remix version, as well as featuring on the track "Dreamer" from her 2017 mixtape 'Number 1 Angel'. RAYE was short-listed for the BBC Music Sound of... award for 2017 and was named in third place. Later in the year, RAYE released the platinum certified hit "Decline" featuring Mr. Eazi, which would serve as the lead single from her 'Side Tape' EP which followed in May 2018. In October 2018, RAYE embarked on her own headlining tour, visiting a number of cities around the UK and Ireland.
After releasing multiple singles in 2019 and 2020, RAYE’s debut mini-album, 'Euphoric Sad Songs' was released on 20 November 2020. The project featured the top 10 hit "Secrets" with Regard as well as "Regardless" with Rudimental. In early 2021, RAYE released the single "Bed" with Joel Corry and David Guetta. The song would peak at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming RAYE’s highest charting single as a lead artist on the chart. Later in the year, RAYE took to social media to reveal that her record label, Polydor Records, has been withholding her debut album for several years. Following the statements, RAYE disclosed in July that she is now officially an independent artist.
RAYE was brought up in a musical family - her parents met at church - both of them musicians in the parish, and her musical heritage goes right back to her Grandfather, who was a songwriter and musician in his own right. Since the age of 10, she's been writing her own music, slowly developing all the time to become the artist she is today. Along the way, RAYE has become confidently adept at various different instruments including the cello, flute, and piano, alongside honing her production skills (and learning to play the guitar). Music has always been a huge part of RAYE’s life. Brought up on the classic soul/jazz maestros of the 40's and 50's like Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole etc - this is where her love for songwriting and melody began. Since then her influences, have aligned with the times, citing Drake, and her all time hero Lauryn Hill as huge sources of inspiration.
Sober
RAYE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just got home and I hear my phone
Oh, I see it on the piano ringing
I see your name, I slide left to speak
Then five minutes later, I'm in my car
And I′m on my way over
You have been drinking
Oh, you'd have called her
No, why'd I stay?
To entertain your same old ways
′Cause I just listen and I just trust ya
′Cause you're too wasted and I′m too sober
No way, get out
I'm screaming to myself right now
′Cause you say nice things and I just trust ya
'Cause you′re too wasted and I'm too sober
I'm in your kitchen, quarter to three
My tears they are falling, you will not catch them
Why I′d ignore my friends and the warnings?
I am so stupid, you start to snore now
This is my own fault
I′m running out of excuses to blame you
Why do I run when you're crying the wolf song?
I′m losing track of the nights that I gave you
No, why'd I stay?
To entertain your same old ways
′Cause I just listen and I just trust ya
'Cause you′re too wasted and I'm too sober
No way, get out
I'm screaming to myself right now
′Cause you say nice things and I just trust ya
′Cause you're too wasted and I′m too sober
Driving home
I decide to play Gloria Gaynor
'Cause I will survive
No more of you, I have made my mind up
Now I won′t stay
To entertain your same old ways
And I won't listen and I won′t trust ya
And you'll stay wasted and I'll be sober
No, I′m screaming to myself right now
′Cause you're a liar and I don′t want ya
And you'll stay wasted and I′ll be sober
From you
The lyrics to Raye's song "Sober" describe a toxic relationship where one person is always under the influence of alcohol or drugs, while the other remains sober. The song opens with the singer coming home to a missed call from their partner, who they soon find out has been drinking and may have even called someone else. Despite this, the singer gets in their car and goes to be with their partner, highlighting their enabling behavior.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly aware of the toxicity of the relationship, questioning why they continue to entertain their partner's "same old ways" and "nice things," even as they consistently betray them. The singer’s cries of "No way, get out" signify their ultimate realization that they cannot continue in the relationship, and they break free for good, vowing not to listen or trust their partner anymore.
Overall, "Sober" is a powerful portrayal of a destructive relationship where the presence of alcohol and drugs keeps it from being healthy, and one person feels trapped in the cycle of their partner's addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the kitchen, 20 to midnight
The singer is at home, late at night
I just got home and I hear my phone
The singer has just arrived home and hears their phone ringing
Oh, I see it on the piano ringing
The singer sees their phone ringing on the piano
I see your name, I slide left to speak
The artist sees the name of someone they know on their phone and swipes to answer
Then five minutes later, I'm in my car
A few minutes later, the artist is in their car
And I'm on my way over
The singer is driving to see someone
You have been drinking
The person the singer is seeing has been drinking
Oh, you'd have called her
The person the artist is seeing might have called another person
You never need me whenever you sober
The person the artist is seeing never wants to see them when they are sober
No, why'd I stay?
The artist questions why they stayed
To entertain your same old ways
The singer stayed to humor the person they're seeing
'Cause I just listen and I just trust ya
The artist trusts the person they're seeing
'Cause you're too wasted and I'm too sober
The person the singer is seeing is too drunk and the singer is too sober
No way, get out
The singer tells the person they're seeing to leave
I'm screaming to myself right now
The singer is screaming to themselves
'Cause you say nice things and I just trust ya
The person the artist is seeing says nice things and the artist trusts them
'Cause you're too wasted and I'm too sober
The person the artist is seeing is too drunk and the artist is too sober
I'm in your kitchen, quarter to three
The singer is at the person they're seeing's home, in their kitchen at 2:45am
My tears they are falling, you will not catch them
The singer is crying and the person they're seeing isn't helping
Why I'd ignore my friends and the warnings?
The artist questions why they ignored their friends' warnings
I am so stupid, you start to snore now
The artist thinks they're foolish and the person they're seeing starts snoring
This is my own fault
The artist takes responsibility for the situation
I'm running out of excuses to blame you
The singer can't find any more excuses to blame the person they're seeing
Why do I run when you're crying the wolf song?
The artist wonders why they always come back when the person they're seeing is acting badly
I'm losing track of the nights that I gave you
The singer has lost count of how many nights they've spent with the person they're seeing
Driving home
The singer is driving home
I decide to play Gloria Gaynor
The singer chooses to play a song by Gloria Gaynor
'Cause I will survive
The artist is strong and will survive without the person they're seeing
No more of you, I have made my mind up
The artist has decided to move on from the person they're seeing
Now I won't stay
The singer won't stay with the person they're seeing
And I won't listen and I won't trust ya
The singer won't trust the person they're seeing anymore
And you'll stay wasted and I'll be sober
The person the artist is seeing will stay drunk while the artist is sober
No, I'm screaming to myself right now
The artist is screaming to themselves again
'Cause you're a liar and I don't want ya
The person the artist is seeing is a liar and the artist doesn't want them
And you'll stay wasted and I'll be sober
The person the singer is seeing will stay drunk while the singer is sober
From you
The artist is separating themselves from the person they're seeing
Writer(s): Mark Roadnight, Rachel Agatha Keen, Paul Keen
Contributed by Chase I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@renzelcarlos7093
I'm in the kitchen, 20 to midnight
I just got home and I hear my phone
Oh I see it on the piano ringing
I see your name, I slide left to speak
Then five minutes later, I'm in my car
And I'm on my way over
You've been drinking
Oh you'd have called her
You never need me whenever you sober
No, why'd I stay?
To entertain your same old ways
Cause I just listen and I just trust ya
Cause you're too wasted and I'm too sober
No way to get out
I'm screaming to myself right now
Cause you say nice things and I just trust ya
Cause you're too wasted and I'm too sober
I'm in your kitchen, quarter to 3
My tears they are falling, you will not catch them
Why I'd ignore my friends and the warnings?
I'm so stupid, you start to snore now
This is my own fault
I'm running out of excuses to blame you
Why do I run when you're crying the wolf song?
I'm losing track of the nights that I gave you
No, why'd I stay?
To entertain your same old ways
Cause I just listen and I just trust ya
Cause you're too wasted and I'm too sober
No way to get out
I'm screaming to myself right now
Cause you say nice things and I just trust ya
Cause you're too wasted and I'm too sober
Driving home
I decide to play Gloria Gaynor
Cause I will survive
No more of you, I have made my mind up
Now I won't stay
To entertain your same old ways
And I won't listen and I won't trust ya
And you'll stay wasted and I'll be sober
No, I'm screaming to myself right now
Cause you're a liar and I don't want ya
And you'll stay wasted and I'll be sober
From you
@starrr365
I can't believe she's been killing it all these years and I didn't know! So glad she's finally making it!
@dreamerdiva564
I can’t believe that people only hear about her just now, she’s such a gem! And this song is on my all time playlist since the moment it was released
@andrewkigen
I'm not sure I've ever felt vocals as sharp as these on YouTube before... I wish I was there when they we're recording this 'cause damn that's such a perfect vocal performance!
@mrbluesky6885
!!! RAYE is underrated af
@tupaclove
My husband of 15 yrs was a chronic high functioning alcoholic from the age of 13. I do not drink at all. He unexpectedly passed 3 wks ago and this song was made for he and I. Thank you Raye for seeing into my life my soul and my forever shattered life.
@CompassionateHumanBeing
I am assuming you loved him despite; and I am sure he was eternally grateful.
@deborahdaviesdd-artist1059
Heartbreaking post. Can’t imagine how hard it is to watch someone you love destroy themself. I hope your heart and soul heals. X
@bigjohn4498
her voice is soo amazing, I can't believe that there are soo many artists and singer less talented then her and soo much more famous
@kimmeijer5445
BigJohn It's simply because once you're really famous your song get higher up to the top easilier since everybody knows that person OR because the songs are simply more catchy
@natsudragneel3431
Or the singers are looking like fuckboys and bitches, no everybody's listeting them just they think they will marry them.