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.
Fadin' Away
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get away from your trouble
Hang on
It will soon fade away
Nothin' stays the same
Just like night turns to day
Hang on
I feel the gloom and despair
Everything is turned around
And sometimes it just isn't fair
You get kicked when you're down
Remember, the good times always follow the bad
Pretty soon
It will all fade away
Cause you can't go back
To what you never had
Hang on
Cause it's fadin' away, fadin' away
If this lonely world seems so damn cold
And you find yourself
Losin' control
Hang on
Hang on
Oh, when you're feelin' sad
That you've been misled
Hang on
They'll soon fade away
Ain't it a shame?
No one takes the blame?
Hang on
Cause they're fadin' away, fadin' away
They're fadin' away
Ain't it a shame?
Hey!
Fadin' away, fadin' away
Nothing stays the same
No!
Fadin' away, fadin' away
Like night turns to day
Hey!
Faded away, faded away
Faded away
Nothing stays the same
Hey!!!
Fadin' away
The lyrics of Robert Cray's song "Fading Away" are a beautiful message of hope and encouragement during difficult times. The opening verse presents the listener with a predicament - they are stuck in a difficult situation and can't seem to escape it. However, the song goes on to remind us that nothing stays the same and we should hold on, for things will soon change for the better. The chorus of the song is the most repeated stanza, where the listener is told to "hang on" because their trouble is "fading away". It conveys the message that the source of their pain or discomfort will eventually disappear.
The second verse of the song delves into the emotional side of the burden the listener is facing. They may be feeling hopeless and weighed down by despair, and everything has become disorientating. The song acknowledges that sometimes life can be unfair and you may feel like you're at your lowest point. However, it reassures the listener that soon enough, "good times always follow the bad". The song hits an emotional peak when it reminds us that "you can't go back to what you never had", which is a poignant sentiment about accepting change and focusing on moving forward.
Overall, "Fading Away" is a song that delivers a powerful message about resilience and growth. Whether you're struggling with a physical ailment, a challenging life situation, or just feeling low, the song is a reminder that things will inevitably get better, and it's important to hang on.
Line by Line Meaning
You find you can't
Get away from your trouble
You realize that you can't escape the problems that follow you around
Hang on
It will soon fade away
Don't lose hope, the tough time you're going through will eventually come to an end
Nothin' stays the same
Just like night turns to day
The only constant in life is change, everything changes and evolves with time
Cause it's fadin' away
The difficult things you're facing are gradually disappearing
I feel the gloom and despair
Everything is turned around
And sometimes it just isn't fair
You get kicked when you're down
I understand the sadness and hopelessness you feel when everything is going wrong, and it is unfair that life sometimes keeps piling up more trouble when you're already struggling
Remember, the good times always follow the bad
Pretty soon
It will all fade away
Keep in mind that just as bad times come, good times follow in their wake, and soon all your problems will be gone
Cause you can't go back
To what you never had
Don't dwell on the past that never was, it's fruitless to try and go back to a time that never existed
If this lonely world seems so damn cold
And you find yourself
Losin' control
Hang on
Hang on
If you feel alone and helpless in a harsh world that seems to be slipping out of your grasp, don't give up, hold on
Oh, when you're feelin' sad
That you've been misled
Hang on
They'll soon fade away
If you're feeling depressed that you've been deceived or taken advantage of, don't let it consume you as it won't be long before those feelings dissipate
Ain't it a shame?
No one takes the blame?
Hang on
Cause they're fadin' away, fadin' away
They're fadin' away
Isn't it sad that no one takes responsibility for their actions? But the pain and hurt they caused are disappearing over time
Nothing stays the same
Hey!!!
Fadin' away
Everything changes, it's the only constant, and so the sadness and difficulty you're experiencing are slowly but surely disappearing
Contributed by Savannah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.