Robert Cray (born August 1, 1953, Columbus, Georgia) is an American blues g… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Cray (born August 1, 1953, Columbus, Georgia) is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band (the Robert Cray Band), as well as an acclaimed solo career. In 2011, Cray was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.

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 Can't Quit
Robert Cray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can't quit lovin' you
I can't quit, darling
I'm hypnotized by the things that you do

You lift me up when I'm feeling down
Make me forget why I'm blue
There's no need to wake me up now, baby
I belong to you

I can't quit lovin' you
I can't quit, darling
I'm mystified by the way that you do

All my life I've been looking
But always in vain
Now all of that's changed, baby
Since I have you, since I have you

Oh, I'm not lying
I've been trying to feel as good as I do
Daytime, midnight and morning
I wouldn't be alive without you

I can't quit lovin' you
Not gonna quit ya, darling
I'm paralyzed by the things that you do

All my life I've been lookin'
But always in vain
Now all of that's changed, baby
Now that I have you
All of that has changed, baby
Now that I have your love

There's no need to wake me up
No, no, no, no
No, no, never gonna give you up
No, I can't do it
No, I can't quit

Never gonna give you up
No, no, no, no

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Robert Cray's song "I Can't Quit" convey a deep sense of love and devotion towards his beloved. He expresses that he can't quit loving her and is mystified by her actions. He gushes about how she lifts him up when he's down and how she makes him forget his woes in life. The love that he has for her has put him in a state of hypnosis, and he says that he belongs to her. The happiness she brings in his life is expressed by stating that he wouldn't be alive without her.

The lyrics convey that the time he spent trying to find happiness and satisfaction in other things was futile until he met her. He has been looking for her all his life, and it's only now that he's found her that everything has changed. This song is an expression of the love that he has for her, and how he can't quit her. The lyrics beautifully convey the depth of love he has for his beloved with each line.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't quit lovin' you
I am unable to stop loving you

I can't quit, darling
I cannot leave you, my love

I'm hypnotized by the things that you do
I am captivated by your actions

You lift me up when I'm feeling down
You make me feel better when I am upset

Make me forget why I'm blue
You help me forget my sadness

There's no need to wake me up now, baby
I do not want to be disturbed from my happiness

I belong to you
I am yours entirely

I'm mystified by the way that you do
I am puzzled and amazed by your actions

All my life I've been looking
I have been searching for love for a long time

But always in vain
But I could never find it before

Now all of that's changed, baby
Now my life has changed for the better since I found you