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 You Even Care
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the night long
And you know
Know that's wrong
What's a matter, baby?
Don't you even care?
You drink
And you're out there high
Skied up on that coke
Hey, baby
Don't you even care?
You took my credit cards
Driving around in my car, too
You checked into some hotel room, now baby
What are you out there trying to prove?
Please bring it home
Don't leave this young man
Don't you leave him all alone
Baby, you wrong
Don't you even care?
Mmmm
Baby, you took all my credit cards
Driving around in my car, too
You checked into the Motel 6, baby
What are you out there trying to prove?
Please, bring it home
Don't leave this young man
Don't you leave him all alone
Baby, you wrong
Don't you even care?
Baby, you know that's wrong
Don't you even care?
Baby, you know that's wrong
Don't you even care?
Baby, you wrong
Don't you even care?
Baby, you wrong
I want my money back
The lyrics to Robert Cray's song "Don't You Even Care" tell the story of a troubled relationship with a woman who is not behaving appropriately. The singer addresses her directly, asking her if she even cares about the way she is acting. She walks the streets all night, drinks and smokes, and is high on cocaine. The singer is upset that she has taken his credit cards and is driving his car around, perhaps trying to prove something. He pleads with her to return home to him and to stop treating him poorly.
The song conveys a sense of frustration and despair. The singer is clearly deeply unhappy with the woman's behavior, but he also seems to be at a loss as to what to do about it. He tries to appeal to her sense of decency, but it seems that her problems are too deep-set for him to make a difference. In the end, he is left feeling hurt and betrayed, and he demands that she return his money.
One interpretation of the song is that it is about addiction. The woman in question may be struggling with substance abuse and is unable to control her behavior. The singer is trying to help her, but he realizes that he cannot save her from herself. The lyrics have a strong sense of helplessness and hopelessness, as though the situation is beyond repair.
Line by Line Meaning
You walk the streets
You wander aimlessly through the night
All the night long
For hours on end
And you know
You're aware
Know that's wrong
You acknowledge it's not right
What's a matter, baby?
What's troubling you?
Don't you even care?
Don't you have any concern?
You drink
You consume alcohol
And you smoke
You inhale smoke
And you're out there high
You're under the influence
Skied up on that coke
You're using cocaine
Hey, baby
Hey, my dear
Don't you even care?
Don't you have any concern?
You took my credit cards
You stole my credit cards
Driving around in my car, too
Using my vehicle for transportation
You checked into some hotel room, now baby
You rented a hotel room
What are you out there trying to prove?
What's your motive?
Please bring it home
Please return it
Don't leave this young man
Don't abandon me
Don't you leave him all alone
Don't leave me by myself
Baby, you wrong
You're mistaken
Don't you even care?
Don't you have any concern?
Mmmm
Hmmm
Baby, you took all my credit cards
You stole all my credit cards
Driving around in my car, too
Using my vehicle for transportation
You checked into the Motel 6, baby
You rented a room at Motel 6
What are you out there trying to prove?
What's your motive?
Please, bring it home
Please return it
Don't leave this young man
Don't abandon me
Don't you leave him all alone
Don't leave me by myself
Baby, you wrong
You're mistaken
Don't you even care?
Don't you have any concern?
Baby, you know that's wrong
You're aware that's not right
Don't you even care?
Don't you have any concern?
Baby, you know that's wrong
You're aware that's not right
Don't you even care?
Don't you have any concern?
Baby, you wrong
You're mistaken
Don't you even care?
Don't you have any concern?
I want my money back
I seek reimbursement
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROBERT CRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind