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 Don't Care
Robert Cray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You walk the streets
All the night long
And you know
Know that's wrong
What's a matter, baby?
Don't you even care?

You drink

And you smoke
And you're out there high
Skied up on that coke
Hey, baby
Don't you even care?

You took my credit cards
Driving around in my car, too
You checked into some hotel room, now baby
What are you out there trying to prove?

Please bring it home
Don't leave this young man
Don't you leave him all alone
Baby, you wrong
Don't you even care?

Mmmm
Baby, you took all my credit cards
Driving around in my car, too
You checked into the Motel 6, baby
What are you out there trying to prove?

Please, bring it home
Don't leave this young man
Don't you leave him all alone
Baby, you wrong
Don't you even care?

Baby, you know that's wrong
Don't you even care?
Baby, you know that's wrong
Don't you even care?
Baby, you wrong
Don't you even care?

Baby, you wrong
I want my money back

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Robert Cray's song "Don't You Even Care" tell the story of a troubled relationship with a woman who is not behaving appropriately. The singer addresses her directly, asking her if she even cares about the way she is acting. She walks the streets all night, drinks and smokes, and is high on cocaine. The singer is upset that she has taken his credit cards and is driving his car around, perhaps trying to prove something. He pleads with her to return home to him and to stop treating him poorly.

The song conveys a sense of frustration and despair. The singer is clearly deeply unhappy with the woman's behavior, but he also seems to be at a loss as to what to do about it. He tries to appeal to her sense of decency, but it seems that her problems are too deep-set for him to make a difference. In the end, he is left feeling hurt and betrayed, and he demands that she return his money.

One interpretation of the song is that it is about addiction. The woman in question may be struggling with substance abuse and is unable to control her behavior. The singer is trying to help her, but he realizes that he cannot save her from herself. The lyrics have a strong sense of helplessness and hopelessness, as though the situation is beyond repair.

Line by Line Meaning

You walk the streets
You wander aimlessly through the night

All the night long
For hours on end

And you know
You're aware

Know that's wrong
You acknowledge it's not right

What's a matter, baby?
What's troubling you?

Don't you even care?
Don't you have any concern?

You drink
You consume alcohol

And you smoke
You inhale smoke

And you're out there high
You're under the influence

Skied up on that coke
You're using cocaine

Hey, baby
Hey, my dear