Hailing from South London, more specifically Croydon, RAYE (real name - Rac… Read Full Bio ↴Hailing from South London, more specifically Croydon, RAYE (real name - Rachel Keen) is a British singer-songwriter. Aside from writing hits for other artists, RAYE has bounced between R&B, pop and dance music in regards to her own discography. Her debut album and one of her first independent releases "'My 21st Century Blues'', was released on February 3 2023.

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.

The Passenger
RAYE Lyrics

Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴

I sit waiting for you everyday
I sit waiting for you
But you give me glances and you walk away
Would you know that i loved you
Oh, would you know that I loved you
If I looked at you this way
Yeah, looked at you this way
Looked at you this way

I sat waiting for you
Would you look my way
The biggest lie I’ve ever been told
Was that you’d never leave me alone
The most true thing that I’ve ever heard
Was you’d always be near
You left me alone; You’d never leave
Yet I can’t see you anymore
But I know you’re here
I wait I wait for you
I don't know what I'd do
Without you
I don't care how long it takes
As long as in the end I'm with you
Nowadays love seems to be so hard to find
There are many people in this world
But the perfect one is hard to find
How can you know if they're the one
There seems to be only one
It must be like a treasure hunt
To find the one for me
I searched through many but found so few
The ocean is full of so many fish but they all have a place
Where do I go to learn the truth I need
The biggest lie I’ve ever been told
Was that you’d never leave me alone (Are you the only one for me)
(Learning to love seems to be so hard)
The most true thing that I’ve ever heard

Was you’d always be near
You left me alone; You’d never leave
Yet I can’t see you anymore but I know you’re here

Line by Line Meaning

I sit waiting for you everyday
I patiently anticipate your arrival every day

But you give me glances and you walk away
However, you only give me fleeting looks and then disregard me

Would you know that I loved you
Could you possibly comprehend the depth of my love for you

Oh, would you know that I loved you
Oh, would you truly understand that I am deeply in love with you

If I looked at you this way
If I were to gaze at you with this intensity

I sat waiting for you
I spent my time sitting, waiting for your presence

Would you look my way
Would you kindly acknowledge my existence

The biggest lie I’ve ever been told
The most deceitful fabrication I have ever come across

Was that you’d never leave me alone
Was the false assurance that you will always remain by my side

The most true thing that I’ve ever heard
The most authentic statement I have ever encountered

Was you’d always be near
Was the promise that you will always be in close proximity

You left me alone; You’d never leave
Contrary to your words, you abandoned me; you departed

Yet I can’t see you anymore
Nevertheless, I am unable to perceive your presence anymore

But I know you’re here
But I possess the certainty that you remain with me

I wait I wait for you
I continue to patiently wait for your arrival

I don't know what I'd do
I am uncertain about how I would cope

Without you
In the absence of your presence

I don't care how long it takes
The duration does not concern me

As long as in the end I'm with you
As long as ultimately, I am reunited with you

Nowadays love seems to be so hard to find
In modern times, love appears to be exceedingly difficult to discover

There are many people in this world
There is a multitude of individuals in this world

But the perfect one is hard to find
However, finding the ideal partner is arduous

How can you know if they're the one
How can one truly ascertain if they have found their soulmate

There seems to be only one
It appears that there is only a singular match

It must be like a treasure hunt
It must resemble a quest for hidden riches

To find the one for me
To discover the person who is meant for me

I searched through many but found so few
I diligently explored numerous options but encountered only a handful

The ocean is full of so many fish but they all have a place
The ocean abounds with countless fish, yet each has its own designated spot

Where do I go to learn the truth I need
Where can I turn to acquire the knowledge I seek

The biggest lie I’ve ever been told (Are you the only one for me)
The most tremendous falsehood ever shared with me (Are you the sole individual meant for me)

(Learning to love seems to be so hard)
(Mastering the art of love appears to be immensely challenging)

The most true thing that I’ve ever heard
The most genuine statement I have ever come across

Was you’d always be near
Was the affirmation that you would perpetually be in close proximity

You left me alone; You’d never leave
However, you deserted me; you departed despite your assurance

Yet I can’t see you anymore but I know you’re here
Nevertheless, your physical presence eludes me, yet I am aware of your existence

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Madison Englebert, Thomas Terry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS