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.
Acting This Way
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you finally answer your phone
Ask me why I keep calling
Why I don't leave you alone
Where you've been, who've you been with
Is all I really wanna know
And then you hang up the phone, girl
Knowing you're hurtin' me so
Sometimes I find it so hard
To let you get away
So I keep on your trail, girl
That's why I'm acting this way
I've lived on a fantasy
That you still wanted me
You said to face reality
This is something that should've never, never been
I've thought up about tryin (not sure about this!)
That you might take me back
But false hopes of not dyin'
Have kept me on one track
Sometimes I find it so hard
To let you get away, girl
That's why I keep on your trail, baby
That's why I'm acting this way
I hoped you've finally faced it
And started moving on
Both our times have been wasted
So I'm probably better off
Still there'll always be these questions
That keep on nagging me
But baby, why not try it?
This is something that might never, never be
And I feel so happy
To let you get away, ohhh, yeah
I'm gonna get off your trail, girl
And stop acting this way
And, oh, I guess I'm so happy
To let you get away, yeah
I'm gonna get off your trail, girl
And stop acting this way
I'm gonna stay off your trail, girl
And stop acting this way
The lyrics of Robert Cray's song Acting This Way explore the theme of unrequited love and the pain that comes with holding onto a fantasy that may never come true. It is three o'clock in the morning and the singer of the song is calling the person he loves, asking where they have been and who they have been with. He cannot let go of the hope that they will take him back, even though he knows deep down that it may never happen. He knows he is hurting himself by acting this way, but he cannot help himself.
The chorus of the song reveals the desperation of the singer to keep the object of his affection close to him. He feels that if he lets them get away, he may never have another chance at love. He acknowledges that his behavior is not healthy, but he cannot bring himself to change. He clings to the fantasy that she still wants him, even though he knows he may be better off without her.
The final bridge of the song marks a turning point in the singer's realization that he cannot continue to act this way. He feels happy to finally let her get away, to stop his obsessive behavior and to move on. He knows that their time together was wasted and that he may never have the answers to the questions that have been nagging him. Finally, he vows to stop acting this way and to stay off her trail.
Line by Line Meaning
It's three o'clock in the morning
The singer is calling in the early hours of the morning.
When you finally answer your phone
The singer has been trying to reach the person for some time.
Ask me why I keep calling
The person wonders why the singer keeps trying to contact them.
Why I don't leave you alone
The person wishes the artist would stop trying to contact them.
Where you've been, who've you been with
The artist wants to know where the person has been and who they have been with.
Is all I really wanna know
The singer is only interested in these specific details and nothing else.
And then you hang up the phone, girl
The person ends the call without answering the singer's questions.
Knowing you're hurtin' me so
The person is aware that the artist is upset and is causing them pain.
Sometimes I find it so hard
The artist struggles to let go of their attachment to the person.
To let you get away
The artist wants to hold on to the relationship they had with the person.
So I keep on your trail, girl
The singer continues to try and contact the person despite their lack of response.
That's why I'm acting this way
The artist's behavior is motivated by their desire to keep the person in their life.
I've lived on a fantasy
The singer has been holding on to unrealistic hopes and beliefs about the relationship.
That you still wanted me
The singer believes that the person still has feelings for them.
You said to face reality
The person has told the singer to accept the truth about the end of the relationship.
This is something that should've never, never been
The person believes that the relationship they had should not have happened.
I've thought up about tryin
The artist has considered trying to get back together with the person.
But false hopes of not dyin'
The singer is clinging to the hope of being with the person again, even though it may not be realistic.
Have kept me on one track
The singer is fixated on the idea of being with the person again.
I hoped you've finally faced it
The artist hopes that the person has come to terms with the end of the relationship.
And started moving on
The artist wants the person to move on from the relationship.
Both our times have been wasted
The artist believes that their time together was ultimately a waste.
So I'm probably better off
The singer believes that it is better for them to move on from the relationship.
Still there'll always be these questions
The artist will always have unanswered questions about the relationship.
That keep on nagging me
The unanswered questions continue to cause the singer anxiety and distress.
But baby, why not try it?
The singer suggests trying to get back together with the person.
This is something that might never never be
The singer acknowledges the possibility that they may never be able to get back together.
And I feel so happy
The artist is finally ready to accept the end of the relationship and move on.
To let you get away
The artist is happy to let the other person go.
I'm gonna get off your trail, girl
The singer plans to stop trying to contact the person.
And stop acting this way
The singer is ready to let go of their attachment to the relationship and move on.
I'm gonna stay off your trail, girl
The artist will stop trying to contact the person and let them move on with their life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PETER BOE, RICHARD COUSINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scott Burns
So incredibly, tragically underrated. Great vibe and very relatable.
Louise Rose
Great band and album - this song has such a clean, bell-like sound and production without any unncessary fluff. :)
I've been looking for this MTV video on Yotube a couple of times before - I don't see why it never showed up in searches. I remember seeing it on MTV at the time, not least the stylized comic-book imagery that feels like Roy Lichtenstein pictures - and most of all the brief exchange at 2:36 :)
1:37, Lichtenstein style: "Man, I can see the whole porch and there's NOBODY ON IT!" :)
Leatherbro 1000
Beautiful song.