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.
A Picture Of A Broken Heart
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see you almost every night
I watch you dance every dance
Men lined up left and right
I hear you tell them stories
Of your happy neon life
Deception's quite an art
Just one look into your party face
There's a picture of a broken heart
A picture of a broken heart
You wear your smile a little too tight
You flirt too much with the band
You laugh and sing just a little too loud
Like someone who's just lost their man
Your act is quite convincing
But loneliness leaves clues
You paint a pretty picture
Deception's quite an art
Just one look into your party face
There's a picture of a broken heart
A picture of a broken heart
I can see a thousand heartaches hidden in your stare
The hurt behind those sad eyes, I been there
I've had my own high times and I've had my falls
You can talk a thousand words, but one picture says it all
SOLO
I glance at you while no one's looking
I see the pain cloud up your eyes
I've watched you blink back a memory
I've watched you choke back a cry
But when the light's back on you
You're right back in disguise
You paint a pretty picture
Deception's quite an art
Just one look into your party face
There's a picture of a broken heart
A picture of a broken heart
A picture of a broken heart
Yeah, yeah
I know you've been crying
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
The song "A Picture Of A Broken Heart", by Robert Cray, describes a woman who tries to hide her pain by going out to clubs and presenting an image of happiness and freedom. However, the lyricist catches glimpses of her true feelings beneath the surface as he sees her smile too tightly, flirt too much, and laugh too loudly. He is able to see through her deception and recognize that she wears a mask of happiness, while in reality, her heart is broken. The lyricist sympathizes with her by acknowledging that everyone experiences heartbreak and that it leaves behind deep scars that are difficult to hide.
The lyrics in this song convey a powerful message about the complexity of human emotions and how it can be difficult to hide our true feelings, no matter how hard we try. The woman in the song wants to appear strong and self-assured, but her attempts to do so ultimately reveal her broken heart instead. The lyricist's observations are poignant, and he is able to see past her facade and empathize with her in a way that is both touching and relatable.
Overall, "A Picture Of A Broken Heart" is a moving song about the universal experience of heartbreak, and it invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences of emotional pain and the ways we try to cope with it.
Line by Line Meaning
You're out with friends going club to club
You are socializing with your friends and visiting various clubs.
I see you almost every night
I observe you almost every night while you are out with your friends.
I watch you dance every dance
I pay attention to each and every dance that you perform.
Men lined up left and right
Numerous men are attracted towards you and are trying to get your attention.
I hear you tell them stories
I listen to you narrate various events that have happened in your life.
Of your happy neon life
You describe your life as filled with ecstasy and bright flashes of neon lights.
You paint a pretty picture
You create an attractive image of yourself through storytelling.
Deception's quite an art
Portraying a fake image of yourself is a skillful task.
Just one look into your party face
A single glimpse at your countenance indicates a lot about your true feelings.
There's a picture of a broken heart
Your face reflects a troubled heart and a damaged soul.
You wear your smile a little too tight
You force a smile that shows your internal hardships.
You flirt too much with the band
You excessively interact in a flirtatious manner with the band members.
You laugh and sing just a little too loud
You overcompensate happiness by trying too hard to laugh and sing loudly.
Like someone who's just lost their man
Your actions are similar to those of a person who has just lost their significant other.
Your act is quite convincing
Your conduct appears highly persuasive to others.
But loneliness leaves clues
Despite trying to deceive, the evidence of loneliness and distress is observable.
I can see a thousand heartaches hidden in your stare
I perceive significant suffering and pain concealed behind your gaze.
The hurt behind those sad eyes, I been there
I have been through a painful experience in the past, which is relatable to your current state of sorrow.
I've had my own high times and I've had my falls
I have witnessed and been a part of both the highs and lows of life.
You can talk a thousand words, but one picture says it all
You use many words to convey emotions that can be explained more effectively through a single photograph.
I glance at you while no one's looking
I sneak a peek at you when no one else is watching.
I see the pain cloud up your eyes
I notice the agony fill up in your eyes.
I've watched you blink back a memory
I observe you trying to forget a past event, but the memory persists.
I've watched you choke back a cry
I have seen you suppress your tears.
But when the light's back on you
Once the spotlight is on you, you display a counterfeited persona.
You're right back in disguise
You resume your pretentious character once you are the center of attention.
I know you've been crying
I am aware that you have been shedding tears.
Contributed by Lillian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.