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 Got Loaded
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got loaded
On a bottle of gin
On a bottle of gin
Last night
I got loaded
On a bottle of gin
You know I feel all right
Feel all right
Feel all right
Feel all right
Night before last
I got loaded
On a bottle of whiskey
On a bottle of whiskey
Night before last
I got loaded
On a bottle of whiskey
On a bottle of whiskey
You know I feel all right
Feel all right
Ohh, feel all right
Feel all right
Tonight
I 'm gonna get loaded
On a bottle of wine, wine
A bottle of wine
Tonight
I 'm gonna get loaded
On a bottle of wine
On a bottle of wine
You know I feel all right
I feel all right
Ohhh, all right
Feel all right
You know I feel all right
I feel all right
I feel all right
Yeah, all right
Yeah, yeah, yeah
The lyrics of Robert Cray's song 'I Got Loaded' are pretty self-explanatory. The singer talks about getting drunk on different types of alcohol on different nights. He narrates how he got loaded on a bottle of gin the last night and felt alright. Similarly, the night before, he drank whiskey and got drunk again. However, he still managed to feel alright. The singer plans to drink a bottle of wine tonight and hopes to feel alright even after getting loaded.
Although the song seems like an alcoholic's chant, there is a deeper meaning to the lyrics. According to the singer, he is not consumed by his drinking habit. Although he drinks every night, he still manages to feel alright. In essence, the singer talks about finding a balance between enjoying his drink and not letting it take over his life. Additionally, the catchy refrain of the song, "you know I feel alright," is an affirmation of his well-being despite his drinking.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night
Referring to the previous evening
I got loaded
I drank too much alcohol
On a bottle of gin
Specifically, I consumed a full bottle of gin
On a bottle of gin
Again, emphasizing the quantity of gin consumed
You know I feel all right
Despite the excessive drinking, I still feel okay
Feel all right
Repeating the previous line
Feel all right
Repeating the previous line
Feel all right
Repeating the previous line
Night before last
Referring to the evening prior to the previous evening
I got loaded
Again, stating that I drank too much alcohol
On a bottle of whiskey
This time, I consumed a full bottle of whiskey
On a bottle of whiskey
Emphasizing the quantity of whiskey consumed
You know I feel all right
Despite the excessive drinking, I still feel okay
Feel all right
Repeating the previous line
Ohh, feel all right
Adding some emphasis to the previous line
Feel all right
Repeating the previous line
Tonight
Referring to the current evening
I 'm gonna get loaded
I plan to drink too much alcohol
On a bottle of wine, wine
This time, I will drink a full bottle of wine
A bottle of wine
Emphasizing the type of alcohol I plan to consume tonight
Tonight
Repeating the start of the previous verse
I 'm gonna get loaded
Repeating the previous line
On a bottle of wine
Repeating the previous line
On a bottle of wine
Repeating the previous line
You know I feel all right
Despite planning to drink tonight, I still feel okay
I feel all right
Repeating the previous line
Ohhh, all right
Adding some emphasis to the previous line
Feel all right
Repeating the previous line
You know I feel all right
Repeating the previous verse
I feel all right
Repeating the previous line
I feel all right
Repeating the previous line
Yeah, all right
Emphasizing that I still feel okay despite my drinking
Yeah, yeah, yeah
A common phrase used to show excitement or enthusiasm
Contributed by Carson P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Patrice BRUEL
I get loaded on Robert's music ! What a feeling !
Kathy Dyer
such a classic song .....so many great covers, too, but Lil Bob`s was the best, of course.
Cowboy Stinky Sweat
@kitano0 Great band
kitano0
@Cowboy Stinky Sweat Los Lobos'
Cowboy Stinky Sweat
Kathy , All due respect to you , but i feel Robert cray version is a touch and a pinch better than copycats that followed after him. But the song is awesome. Keep on jamming.Peace. Kill the Virus.
David Casmaer
this is great stuff, love it
Eric Ellis
Hell yes REAL MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!! Just fuckin awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Swillsy474
Superb track, nice one Fran.
robert perrella
i remember robert cray as THE OPENING ACT for eric clapton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,,,,robert cray as the opening act: THAT IS VERY FUNNY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Hasleton
Saw Robert Cray 1986 at Sydney Town Hall , a small venue , in 1986. Saw Los Lobos that year in a bar , Coogee Bay Hotel , Sydney ( over the road from the beach) same year. Good times , long ago but NOT forgotten