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 Shiver
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So bad, I scare myself
My hair is turnin' gray so fast
I'm worried about my health
And I shiver all over, I shiver all over
I shiver all over, 'cause I ain't got you, hmm
My stomach's twisted up in knots
My blood's pressure's runnin' up so high
I know it's gonna stop my heart
And I shiver all over, I shiver all over
I shiver all over, 'cause I ain't got you, hmm
I've got spots all over my body
I wear shades 'cause my eyes are red
I got a headache that just won't go away
It's a wonder that I'm not dead
I got spots all over my body
I wear shades 'cause my eyes are red
I got a headache that just won't go away
It's a wonder that I'm not dead
My doctor looked at my condition
He said, "Oh, Bob, you look all a mess
There ain't a thing that I can do about you
But you can sure use a whole lot of rest"
And I shiver all over, I shiver all over
I can't even sleep at night, 'cause I ain't got you, hmm
I ain't got you
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no, no
In Robert Cray's song "I Shiver," the singer expresses his intense longing for someone he does not have. The singer's situation is very intense, and he describes experiencing extreme physical symptoms due to his desire for this person. He paints a picture of himself feeling unwell and on the brink of death due to his lack of what he desires. His hair is gray and falling out, he has a fever, his stomach is twisted in knots, his blood pressure is running high, and he has spots all over his body that he hides with shades. He describes his headache as one that "just won't go away," and he believes his heart might stop due to his physical distress.
The song's title "I Shiver" expresses the physical and emotional distress the singer experiences, and the repetition of the line "I shiver all over" emphasizes his intense longing. The singer sees a doctor who tells him that he needs rest but acknowledges that there is nothing he can do about his condition related to his desire for this person.
The lyrics of the song can be interpreted to represent unrequited love, and the physical symptoms represent the pain and longing that accompany it. The line "I ain't got you" is an echo of the song's refrain, which emphasizes the singer's focus on his single desire, leaving him feeling empty and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I get the blues in the mornin'
I experience great sadness early in the day
So bad, I scare myself
The depth of my sadness frightens me
My hair is turnin' gray so fast
I'm aging rapidly due to stress and anxiety
I'm worried about my health
My mental state is adversely affecting my physical health
And I shiver all over, I shiver all over
I experience uncontrollable tremors throughout my body
I'm burnin' with a fever
My emotional pain is causing physical fever symptoms
My stomach's twisted up in knots
Intense anxiety is causing digestive issues
My blood's pressure's runnin' up so high
My blood pressure is dangerously elevated
I know it's gonna stop my heart
The stress is so severe it may cause a heart attack
I've got spots all over my body
Stress has manifested in the form of physical rashes
I wear shades 'cause my eyes are red
I hide the evidence of my stress-induced sleeplessness
I got a headache that just won't go away
My constant state of panic is causing a headache to persist
It's a wonder that I'm not dead
It's surprising I haven't completely succumbed to the stress yet
My doctor looked at my condition
A medical professional assessed my physical and emotional state
He said, "Oh, Bob, you look all a mess
The doctor acknowledged the severity of my state
There ain't a thing that I can do about you
There's no clear medical fix for my emotional distress
But you can sure use a whole lot of rest"
The doctor suggests relaxation as a remedy
I can't even sleep at night, 'cause I ain't got you, hmm
The root of my distress is due to the absence of a particular person
I ain't got you
The song's title and refrain reiterate the problem - not having this person in my life
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROBERT WILLIAM CRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Priyadarshini Modak
"I Shiver"
I get the blues in the morning.
So bad, I scare myself
My hair is turning gray so fast,
I'm worried about my health,
And I shiver all over,
I shiver all over,
I shiver all over,
'Cause I ain't got you!
Mmmmm...
I'm burning with a fever.
My stomach's twisted up in knots.
My blood's pressure is up so high
I know it's gonna stop my heart.
And I shiver all over,
I shiver all over,
I shiver all over,
'Cause I ain't got you!
Mmmmm...
I've got spots all over my body,
I wear shades 'cause my eyes are red
I've got a headache that just won't go away.
It's a wonder that I'm not dead.
I've got spots all over my body,
I wear shades 'cause my eyes are red
I've got a headache that just won't go away.
It's a wonder that I'm not dead.
My doctor looked at my condition,
He said oh, Bob you look a mess
There ain't a thing I can do about you
But, you sure can use a lot of rest.
And I shiver all over,
I shiver all over,
I can't even sleep at night,
'Cause I ain't got you!
Mmmmm...
I ain't got you!
No!
No, no no no
No, no no no
No, no no no,
I shiver all over,
Antonio Avanzato original music
I saw him tonight in Tucson and had the good fortune to meet him for the second time and not only is he one of the best guitarist, but his voice range is incredible. He’s also a down to earth gentleman.
Maurice Cardinal
His songs are so unique and truthful! Amazing talent.
Amanda King
My daughter turned me onto Robert Cray back in the mid 1980's and I've been in love with him ever since. Baddass blues artist. He don't get the billing he should have been getting. He got some kickass songs out there. Love you Robert; you rock on baby.
Susan Lettieri
To the 37 idiots who gave this a thumbs down ----- go get yourself a hearing aide!!!! This song is awesome!!!!
Trina humble Skipper
Amen sister
Fernando
Sitting on top of the world !
BlindMellowJelly
I wanted to share what Robert once told me about his music style and when he did I felt so silly for not seeing it before. It was in the mid 80s also and he was hot and touring on a regular basis. I would talk to artists at a concert pavilion in columbia md because I was assigned to the area where they would unload from the bus and hit the stage. Robert replied when I asked why I thought he was so different and had such an unusual style. He said it was due to the music he grew up listening too. Sure the blues greats were present but his parents had a taste for Soul Music and when he named the various artists he was influenced by I got it. He learned most of his stuff using Mel Bay Books just as I did back then but figured out how to be as melodic as the Soul music he had heard. At 23 I was shocked and just as he said that he took the stage.....Had I been a reporter he may not have been so candid but I cherish that moment.
David Mark
53 hearing aids required now!
Brenda Hicks
Taps right into the soul!!! I shiver all over!!! WHEW!
Charlie Tambaur
Again...and again...this is a awesome track and that guitar is killing me!!!