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.
Don't Touch Me
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No
Just leave me alone
Because the way you treat me, baby
You know that's wrong
I'm leavin' you, baby
Gonna hit that highway
When I took you off the streets
And gave you everything that I had
When I ask you for some love, baby
You haul off and get mad
I'm gone, baby
Hey, baby
Gonna hit that highway
Back home
Now check this out
You don't appreciate
Not one thing that I do
And you're always talking about
How you and I are through
You take all my money
And you take it with so much pride
Baby, you
Darling I know that you're never satisfied
I'm leavin' you baby
And there's no need to cry, no
I'm gonna grab my coat and put on my hat
And wave you bye-bye
I'm gone, baby
Hey, baby
Gonna hit that highway
Back home
Well, I'm leavin' you, baby
Oh, there's no need to cry
When I grab my coat and put on my hat
It's just to say bye-bye
I'm gone, baby
Hey, baby
Gonna hit that highway
Back home
In Robert Cray's song "Don't Touch Me," the singer is telling his partner that their relationship isn't working out and that he is leaving her. He's had enough of her mistreatment and lack of appreciation for everything he has done for her. The lyrics are powerful in describing the frustration and hurt that comes with a broken relationship. The repetition of the phrase "Gonna hit that highway, back home" throughout the song emphasizes the feeling of wanting to escape the situation and start fresh.
Throughout the song, Cray is also acknowledging the material and financial contributions he has made to the relationship. He took her off the streets and gave her everything he had, but she still wasn't able to give him the love he wanted. The way she takes all his money and talks about their relationship ending makes it clear she has no respect for him, and he's not going to take it anymore.
The chorus of "Don't touch me, baby, no, just leave me alone" highlights the physical distance he's trying to put between himself and his partner. The repetition of the phrase in the beginning of the song, after the first verse, and during the final lines emphasize the emotion behind the lyrics. Ultimately, the song is about leaving an unfulfilling and painful relationship and taking control of your own life.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't touch me, baby
Please don't make any attempt to touch me physically, emotionally, or mentally.
No
I'm not okay with your behavior or the way you're treating me.
Just leave me alone
Please give me space and time away from you since I feel suffocated and no longer want to be close to you.
Because the way you treat me, baby
You know that's wrong
You're aware that your behavior towards me is inappropriate and disrespectful.
I'm leavin' you, baby
Gonna hit that highway
Back home
I've decided to walk away from this relationship and go back to my hometown.
When I took you off the streets
And gave you everything that I had
When I ask you for some love, baby
You haul off and get mad
I provided you with shelter, support, and care when you had nothing, but when I request a basic need like affection, you become unreasonably angry.
Now check this out
You don't appreciate
Not one thing that I do
And you're always talking about
How you and I are through
You never acknowledge the efforts that I put in to keep this relationship going, and you keep bringing up ending it.
You take all my money
And you take it with so much pride
Baby, you
Darling I know that you're never satisfied
You take advantage of me financially and act as if you're entitled to it, and I know that you're someone who can never be pleased.
There's no need to cry, no
I'm gonna grab my coat and put on my hat
And wave you bye-bye
You don't have to get emotional or upset about my departure, I'm just going to say goodbye now.
Well, I'm leavin' you, baby
Oh, there's no need to cry
When I grab my coat and put on my hat
It's just to say bye-bye
I'm leaving you now, and it's unnecessary to cry or show any intense emotions when I put on my coat and prepare to say goodbye.
Gonna hit that highway
Back home
I'm going to travel on the road and return to my place of origin.
I'm gone, baby
Hey, baby
I've left you, and I don't intend on coming back to this relationship.
Contributed by Aaron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jan de Boer
Nice version of a Watson classic. I don't like the synthesizer jmho. This song needs a real hammond.