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.
I'd Rather Be A Wino
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way down on skid row
I'd rather be a wino
Way down on skid row
If I lost my little Jenny
I wouldn't have noelse to go
Well I feel like a junky
I feel like a junky
With tracks all down my arm
I'm hooked on that girl
I can't let here come to no harm
Well if I was sick and dyin'
And didn't have much time to go
If I was sick and dyin'
And didn't have much time to go
I'd say lord come and get me
If I can't love my Jenny anymore
Well I'd rather be a wino
Way down on skid row
I'd rather be a wino
Way down on skid row
The song "I'd Rather Be A Wino" by Robert Cray is a blues song about a man who is down on his luck and would rather be a drunk than face the pain of the loss of his love, Jenny. He would rather be a wino than have to face the reality of life without her. The lyrics describe how he feels like a junky, completely hooked on Jenny, and willing to do anything to keep her safe.
In the first verse, he sings "If I lost my little Jenny, I wouldn't have no else to go." This line shows that Jenny was his entire world and the only person he cared about. The second verse adds more detail to his addiction, with the line "I'm hooked on that girl, I can't let here come to no harm." He would rather be a wino than have to live without her.
The final verse shows the desperation of his situation with the lines: "If I was sick and dyin' and didn't have much time to go, I'd say lord come and get me if I can't love my Jenny anymore." He would rather die than live without her, and in his mind, being a wino is the only way to survive without her.
Overall, the song is a powerful portrayal of heartache and addiction, and the lengths someone will go to avoid facing the pain of their loss. It provides a glimpse into the mind of someone struggling to cope with their emotions and shows how difficult it can be to move on from a love lost.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd rather be a wino
I prefer to be an alcoholic
Way down on skid row
Living in poverty in a part of town known for homelessness and destitution
If I lost my little Jenny
If I lost my love, my partner or my significant other
I wouldn't have no else to go
I wouldn't have anyone else to turn to or be with
Well I feel like a junky
I feel like a drug addict, addicted to Jenny
With tracks all down my arm
With physical evidence of my addiction to Jenny
I'm hooked on that girl
I'm addicted to that girl, Jenny
I can't let her come to no harm
I will do whatever it takes to protect Jenny from any harm
Well if I was sick and dyin'
If I was terminally ill
And didn't have much time to go
And I knew that I was going to die soon
I'd say lord come and get me
I would pray for God to take me
If I can't love my Jenny anymore
If I can't be with Jenny or love her, I don't want to live anymore
Contributed by Ethan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Juan Martinez
No conozco a ninguna persona cercana a mi que le guste esta canción pero al escucharla solo trato de disfrutar esta obra de arte.
Margaret King
These is what I call the blues it puts my thoughts in a moon light setting
blueaxisexperience
I must say that Robert Cray is a REAL blues man with soul that bleeds throughout his very solid guitar licks and lyrics, as well as his songwriting and other songs he chooses to record. Thank GOD for him! He is a true blessing to this world of music.
Ernie D
Another great song Robert Cray great artist
idurt paige
Robert cray is just simply cooooool
idurt paige
little jenny, what love will do