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.
He Don't Live Here Anymore
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The day I went home
The taxi dropped me on the street
And I stood there all alone
I saw a lady on the porch
That I knew from years before
She said, "Sorry about your father"
"Sorry about your father
He don't live here, no more
Sorry about your father
I saw them close the hearse door
He don't live here no more"
Unopened letters
Unanswered calls
We were two separate men
Behind our stone walls
A chilled wind was blowin'
A cold October rain
And as I stood before the house
It was silently saying
'Sorry about your father
He don't live here, no more
Sorry about your father
I saw them close the hearse door
He don't live here no more'
Sorry about your father
I remember that day
Sorry about your father
I saw them take him away, yes, I did
I remember that day
Sorry about your father
I remember that day
Oh, when I went home, fell down on my knees
Raised up my right hand and I cried 'Please, please, please'
If I had just a little more time, yeah
The song He Don't Live Here Anymore is a poignant reflection on the death of Robert Cray's father. The lyrics speak of a man returning to his childhood home in the wake of his father's death. On his arrival, he is greeted by a woman he knows from years before who tells him, "Sorry about your father. He don't live here no more." The line is repeated throughout the song like a refrain, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the finality of death.
The lyrics go on to describe the man's grief and sense of loss as he stands before the cold, silent house that was once his childhood home. Unanswered letters and phone calls, along with the stone walls that divided him from his father, reinforce the idea that the two men were estranged in life. As he contemplates what could have been, he falls to his knees and pleads for more time with his father.
The song is a moving and introspective reflection on loss, regret, and the enduring pain of grief. Robert Cray's delivery is understated but powerful, and the mournful blues guitar is a perfect accompaniment to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I still remember
The singer remembers the day he visited home
The day I went home
The day the singer visited his childhood home
The taxi dropped me on the street
The taxi took the singer to the street of his childhood home
And I stood there all alone
The artist was left alone on the street
I saw a lady on the porch
The artist witnessed a lady standing on a porch
That I knew from years before
The singer recognized the lady from his past
She said, "Sorry about your father"
The lady expressed her condolences to the singer for the loss of his father
From behind the closed screen door
The lady spoke to the artist from behind a closed screen door
"Sorry about your father
The lady repeats her condolences to the artist for the loss of his father
He don't live here, no more
The lady informs the artist that his father no longer lives at that address
Unopened letters
Unread messages the singer never received
Unanswered calls
Missed phone calls the artist never picked up
We were two separate men
The singer and his father were estranged
Behind our stone walls
Both the singer and his father built emotional barriers
A chilled wind was blowin'
The weather was cold and uncomfortable
A cold October rain
It was raining in October
And as I stood before the house
The artist stood outside his childhood home
It was silently saying
The house conveyed a message without any words
'Sorry about your father
The house seemingly apologized to the singer for the loss of his father
I remember that day
The artist vividly recalls the events of the day
I saw them take him away, yes, I did
The artist saw his father being taken away
Oh, when I went home, fell down on my knees
The artist was overwhelmed with emotion upon his return home
Raised up my right hand and I cried 'Please, please, please'
The singer desperately begged for more time with his father
If I had just a little more time, yeah
The artist wished he had more time with his father before he passed away
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Dennis Leo Walker, James R. Pugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Armando Gomes
I still remember
The day I went home
The taxi dropped me on the street
And I stood there all alone
I saw a lady on the porch
That I knew from years before
She said, "Sorry about your father"
From behind the closed screen door
"Sorry about your father
He don't live here, no more
Sorry about your father
I saw them close the hearse door
He don't live here no more"
Unopened letters
Unanswered calls
We were two separate men
Behind our stone walls
A chilled wind was blowin'
A cold October rain
And as I stood before the house
It was silently saying
'Sorry about your father
He don't live here, no more
Sorry about your father
I saw them close the hearse door
He don't live here no more'
Sorry about your father
I remember that day
Sorry about your father
I saw them take him away, yes, I did
I remember that day
Sorry about your father
I remember that day
Ohh, when I went home, fell down on my knees
Raised up my right hand and I cried 'Please, please, please'
If I had just a little more time, yeah
bluesout3
perfect in every way , Lyrics, texture, simple but effective music line. Well done Robert and thank you Bob for posting. I'm a fan.
Paul Hooson
A masterpiece that I can hardly listen to without a wet eye.
Stoic Eric
I literally cannot hear this without crying.
Stoic Eric
Here it is two years later and I was sitting about 8 feet away from the sky on Friday night but listening to this right now... just can't stop crying. This is the story of every relationship regret ever experienced.
Rob Jones
A fantastic song.
I've never heard Robert sound so heartbroken.
And that guitar solo, wow!
BB King would be smiling with approval.....
Dabhr2
Robert is a genius
Brad Nichols
Best blues song for missing ones dafd,,never knew mine but 6 years,I'm 64 now,,spent last 30 with bob.thank you Robert crzu,,
David Campbell
Cray’s voice is like warm butterscotch. It is a virtuoso instrument in and of itself.
julien silverston
Thank you, this song was missing, such a beautiful and dramatic one, my favorite.
Morgan Bucks
Awesome!