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 Didn't Know
Robert Cray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I didn't trust nobody
I didn't trust my feelings
You said a lot of nice things
I didn't catch the meanings

I didn't know that you
Thought
So much of me

I didn't know
I didn't know

Must of had a chip on my shoulder
I was kind of hard to get close to
You started out on me slowly
Yes, you did
Something you were'nt quite used to

I didn't know why you
Were
So good to me
I didn't know
I didn't know

I plead ignorance, baby!
Ohhh!
Hey!
I didn't know, I didn't know

Said I'd call you on Sunday
We could go out for dinner
Forgot to make reservations
Mmmm
I never said I was sorry

I didn't know that you
Meant
So much to me
I didn't know
I didn't know

Hey! I plead ignorance!
Ignorance, baby!
I didn't know
I didn't know
I didn't know

(Neat little break)

(Screaming)

I plead ignorance
I know
Kind of hard to get close to
Yes, I was
Had a chip on my shoulder
Didn't know you meant so much to me, girl
I didn't know you were the one for me, girl
I didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know, no, no

Mmmm, mmmmm, hmmm

I didn't trust anybody
No, no
I didn't know
I didn't know

Never did trust nobody
I didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know

Must of had a chip on my shoulder
Never did trust my feelings

No, no, no
Didn't know, didn't know, didn't know, I didn't know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Robert Cray's song "I Didn't Know" revolve around the singer's realization that he had been closed off and untrusting of those around him, particularly someone who had feelings for him. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the singer admitting that he didn't trust anyone, including his own emotions. The other person in the song had said "a lot of nice things," but the singer didn't understand the meaning behind them.

Throughout the rest of the song, the singer reflects on how difficult it was for him to let people get close to him. The person who had feelings for him had to take things slowly, and the singer didn't even realize how much she cared for him until later. He brushes off his mistakes, such as forgetting to make dinner reservations, but ultimately admits that he "didn't know" how much the other person meant to him.

Overall, the song is about overcoming emotional barriers and learning to trust and appreciate the people in your life. The repetition of "I didn't know" emphasizes the theme of realization and regret, as the singer acknowledges that he had been shutting people out and missing out on important connections.

Line by Line Meaning

I didn't trust nobody
I didn't have faith in anyone

I didn't trust my feelings
I didn't have confidence in my emotions

You said a lot of nice things
You complimented me often

I didn't catch the meanings
I didn't understand the intent behind your words

I didn't know that you Thought So much of me
I had no idea that you held me in such high regard

I didn't know
I was unaware

Must of had a chip on my shoulder
I must have had a chip on my shoulder

I was kind of hard to get close to
I was difficult to become close with

You started out on me slowly
You approached me in a patient and gradual manner

Something you were'nt quite used to
Something you were not accustomed to doing

I didn't know why you Were So good to me
I couldn't comprehend why you treated me so well