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.
FAR AWAY
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I looked way into the future
What I saw was you not here with me
And when I looked inside for an answer, honey
I just knew that I had to be free
What I have to say
After years of love
It's hard to understand
No, that I'm not leavin' for anyone else, honey
I need to know just who I am
If it's all right with you
I'll just excuse myself
Gather up my things
Leave the keys on the shelf
I'll come back in the morning
When the kids awake
To tell them daddy had to go away
I'm going far away
Nothing lasts forever
I'm going far from where I used to be
I remember that young couple at the chapel
It all seems like a dream to me
I!
I didn't know myself
Never knew myself when I met you
And even now must seem like a crime
You know that I promised to love you forever
It's just forever ran out of time
So if it's all right with you
I'll just excuse myself
I'll just gather my things
The keys are on the shelf
I'll come 'round in the morning
When the kids awake
Ohhh!
To tell them daddy had to go away
Hmmmmmmm
I never knew myself
Mmmmmmmmmmmm
Know that I wanna
Mmmmmmmm
I'm gonna walk on
Far away
Ohhh, heyyyyy!
Mmmmmm
Mmmm
If it's all right with you
I'll just excuse myself
I'll just gather my things
I'll leave the keys on the shelf
I'll come back in the morning
When the kids awake
To tell them that Daddy had to go away
If it's all right with you
I'll excuse myself
If it's all right with you
I'll leave the keys on the shelf
I'll come back in the morning
When the kids awake
Mmmmmmmm
To tell them that Daddy had to go away
(whistling)
Mmmmmm
Going far away
I need to know who I am
Heyyyyyy!
Mmmmmmmmm
Robert Cray's "Far Away" is a poignant ballad that speaks of a man's realization that he needs to leave his loved ones to find his own identity. The lyrics reveal the singer's perspective as he speaks to his partner, telling her that he is leaving for the sake of his own self-discovery. He admits that he has been unable to find himself while being in a committed relationship, and it is time to break away and find out who he truly is. In the chorus, Cray reinforces the idea that he is going to go far away to discover himself, leaving his past behind.
The opening lines of the first verse are especially engaging because they show an incredibly introspective approach to the lyrics. The singer is looking far into the future, and what he sees is a version of himself that is not accompanied by his partner. The exploration of a future without the partner he has been with for so long brings up numerous emotions and thoughts. In the second verse, Cray continues to showcase his introspection, as he sings about not truly knowing himself when he was with his partner. Finally, the song ends with a desire to discover oneself, as demonstrated in the final chorus.
Overall, "Far Away" is a reflective and poignant song that speaks of the complexities and difficulties of being in a committed relationship while at the same time trying to discover oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I looked far away
I looked out into the future, far beyond where we are now
I looked way into the future
I looked far ahead in time, imagining what could be
What I saw was you not here with me
In this imagined future, I saw an image of you, but you were not present with me
And when I looked inside for an answer, honey
Reflecting on this realization, I searched within myself for insight
I just knew that I had to be free
Through this introspection, I discovered that I needed to break free from our current situation
What I have to say
I have something important to share
What I have to say I know will hurt you
I am aware that what I am about to say will cause you pain
After years of love
Despite our long history together
It's hard to understand
This realization may be difficult for you to comprehend
No, that I'm not leavin' for anyone else, honey
Please know that I am not leaving because of someone else
I need to know just who I am
My desire to depart stems from my need to better understand myself
If it's all right with you
If you are agreeable to my leaving
I'll just excuse myself
I will take my leave
Gather up my things
I will collect my belongings
Leave the keys on the shelf
I will leave the keys behind
I'll come back in the morning
I will return tomorrow
When the kids awake
When our children are up and about
To tell them daddy had to go away
I will explain to them why I had to leave
Nothing lasts forever
All things come to an end eventually
I'm going far from where I used to be
I am moving away from my previous way of life
I remember that young couple at the chapel
I recall our younger selves, getting married
It all seems like a dream to me
In retrospect, that time feels like a distant memory
I didn't know myself
When we met, I did not have a clear sense of my identity
Never knew myself when I met you
Throughout our relationship, I have struggled to find myself
And even now must seem like a crime
Given our history together, my desire for self-discovery may appear to be a betrayal
You know that I promised to love you forever
I made a commitment to you, a vow of eternal love
It's just forever ran out of time
But as time has passed, that commitment has become unsustainable
Mmmm
Vocalization, without a defined meaning
Contributed by Kaitlyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.