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 go home
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause I know what I'm gonna find there
I can't go home, no
Cause I know, I know what I'm gonna find there
My neighbor's have told me
My friends have, too
"Things won't be cool."
"Things are gonna be hard there"
"You can't go home."
I can't go home
Just can't do it
I can't go home, no, no, no, no
A friend told me
That your girl is calling some other man daddy
Ohhhh, oh man, I've dreaded this fateful day
I ought to go home and get my gun
And blow his ass away
They say there's a law about it
I don't care
There's gonna be hard times ahead
If I go home
(Angry guitar solo)
I can't go home
Cause I know what I'm gonna find there
I can't go home, no, no
It scares me so, and I won't have that no more, no
Why did this thing have to happen again?
And the guy that she's hanging out with
Used to be my friend
And that's so cold
That's the sad part about it
I can't do it
I can't go home, no, no, no
The lyrics to Robert Cray Band's "I Can't Go Home" tell the story of a man who is unable to return to his home because he knows that things there will not be the same anymore. The singer has heard from his neighbors and friends that going back will not be easy, and he is scared of the outcome. One particular friend told him that his girl is now calling another man "daddy", which causes a great deal of anger and resentment. He is even considering taking violent action against this newfound adversary, but is hesitant because he knows that there would be legal consequences. Ultimately, he decides that he cannot face the realities of what has happened and chooses not to go home at all.
The theme of the song is one of loss and regret, as the singer mourns the fact that his life will never be the same again. The pain that he feels is expressed through the emotional tone of the music, with the guitar solo serving as a cathartic release of frustration and anger. Overall, "I Can't Go Home" is a heartfelt ballad that speaks to the universal human experiences of heartbreak and disappointment.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't go home
The singer cannot return to his home
Cause I know what I'm gonna find there
The singer is aware of what awaits him at his home
My neighbor's have told me
The singer has received information from his neighbors
My friends have, too
The artist has also heard from his friends
They say, 'Young Bob, if you go home'
The artist's acquaintances advise him against returning home
'Things won't be cool.'
The situation at home will not be favorable for him
A friend told me
One of the singer's friends revealed some information to him
That your girl is calling some other man daddy
The artist's girlfriend is cheating on him with another man
Ohhhh, oh man, I've dreaded this fateful day
The artist is distressed by this news and has been anxious about it for some time
I ought to go home and get my gun
The artist considers taking violent action against the person involved in his partner's infidelity
And blow his ass away
The singer is contemplating murder
They say there's a law about it
The artist is aware that murder is illegal
I don't care
The singer is disregarding the legal ramifications of his proposed actions
There's gonna be hard times ahead
The singer expects to encounter difficulties in the future
If I go home
The singer will face these difficulties if he returns home
Why did this thing have to happen again?
The artist has experienced similar situations in the past
And the guy that she's hanging out with
The person his girlfriend is cheating on him with
Used to be my friend
The singer's former friend is now involved with his girlfriend
And that's so cold
The singer is hurt by the betrayal of both his girlfriend and former friend
That's the sad part about it
This aspect of their actions is particularly distressing to the artist
It scares me so, and I won't have that no more, no
The prospect of returning home is frightening to the artist, and he intends to avoid it
I can't do it
The artist is unable to bring himself to return home
I can't go home, no, no, no
The singer is adamant that he will not return home
Contributed by Brooklyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.