Robert Cray (born August 1, 1953, Columbus, Georgia) is an American blues g… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Cray (born August 1, 1953, Columbus, Georgia) is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band (the Robert Cray Band), as well as an acclaimed solo career. In 2011, Cray was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.

While Cray was among artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Thorogood who got wider radio airplay and regular MTV video exposure during the late 1980s, he started playing guitar in his early teens. At Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia, his love of blues and soul music flourished as he started collecting records. Originally, Robert Cray wanted to become an architect, but at about the same time he was going to study design in architecture he formed a local band "Steakface", described as "the best band from Lakewood you never heard of". Cray on guitar and vocals contributed greatly to Steakface's set list of songs by Jimi Hendrix, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Fleetwood Mac, the Grease Band, Blodwyn Pig, Jethro Tull, Forever More, Spirit, and The Faces.

By the time he was twenty, Cray had seen his heroes Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters in concert, and decided to form his own band. His band started playing college towns on the west coast. After several years of regional success, Cray was signed to Mercury Records in 1982. His third release, Strong Persuader, received a Grammy Award, while the crossover single "Smokin' Gun" gave him wider appeal and name recognition.

By then Cray was an opening act for such major stars as Eric Clapton (who remains a friend to this day), and sold out larger venues as a solo artist. Cray has generally played Fender guitars (Telecasters and Stratocasters) and there are two signature Robert Cray Stratocasters models available from Fender.

Cray continues to record and tour.

Coming Home
Robert Cray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

As her car pulls out the driveway
And she don't wave goodbye
Her last words echo in my mind
Listen honey, I gotta get away

I'm standing here watching her tail lights
As if they're some kind of sign
Fading into a memory

I just got tired of trying

So long, I hate to see you go
So I save my tears for later on down the road
How come I keep I holding on
Knowing you won't be coming home

Two days later I get a letter
A picture of a room in some hotel
Sitting framed up on the table,
A picture I know so well
You've painted yourself into a corner
Now you're trying to paint something new
And your lipstick on the letter
Is a goodbye kiss from you

So long, I hate to see you go
So I save my tears for later on down the road
How come I keep I holding on
Knowing you won't be coming home

I still set the table
Still set it for you and me
It's become a habit
My own personal make believe

So long, I hate to see you go
So I save my tears for later on down the road
How come I keeW I holding on
Knowing you won't be coming home

So long, I hate to see you go
So I save my tears for later on down the road

How come I keep I holding on
Knowing you won't be coming home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Robert Cray's song "Coming Home" talk about the heartbreak and pain of a failed relationship. The singer's partner is leaving him, and she doesn't even say goodbye. Her last words, "Listen honey, I gotta get away," echo in his mind as she pulls out of the driveway, and he watches her tail lights fading into the distance. He realizes that he has tried his best to hold onto the relationship, but it's over. He says his goodbyes, saving his tears for later on down the road, knowing she won't be coming back.

Two days later, he receives a letter from his ex-partner. The picture she sends him is of a room in some hotel, and he knows it all too well. She is trying to paint something new in her life and has already painted herself into a corner. The lipstick on the letter is a goodbye kiss from her. The singer is still holding on to the relationship, even though he knows she won't be coming home.

The singer has become used to setting the table for both him and his partner, even though she's not there. It's his way of keeping the memory of her alive, which has become his personal make-believe. He is holding on to the past, even though his partner has moved on with her life.

Overall, "Coming Home" is a poignant song that explores the feelings of lost love and the pain of heartbreak. The lyrics are a reminder of the complexity of human emotions and the difficulties of letting go.

Line by Line Meaning

As her car pulls out the driveway
I see her leaving as she drives away

And she don't wave goodbye
She doesn't even look back or wave goodbye

Her last words echo in my mind
I can't stop thinking about her last words

Listen honey, I gotta get away
She told me she had to get away from me

I'm standing here watching her tail lights
I'm standing here watching her drive into the distance

As if they're some kind of sign
As if they're trying to tell me something

Fading into a memory
Slowly fading away into my memory

I just got tired of trying
I just got too tired to keep trying to make things work

So long, I hate to see you go
I'm sad to see her leave

So I save my tears for later on down the road
I'll cry later when I'm alone

How come I keep I holding on
Why can't I let go of my feelings for her