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.
Labor Of Love
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With her problems
Worrying about
What she might think
Her hold on my heart
You know it drives me crazy
And buddy, I'm on the brink
Thought I'd worked my way
Through all of the heartaches
Jealously, anger and pain
But this feeling I've got
It's so doggone desperate, man
I'll have to do it all over again
I'm awake late at night
An emotional fool
Making vows to myself
That I can't keep
Another know it all
Lonesome man of the world
Who can't stop crying
Himself to sleep
If push comes to shove
Seems like this labor of love
Is just too much work for me
I'm awake late at night
An emotional fool
Making vows to myself
That I can't keep
Another know it all
Lonesome man of the world
Who can't stop crying
Himself to sleep
If push comes to shove
Seems like this labor of love
Is just too much work for me
I can't stop thinking about her
It's a sad but natural fact
She's a devil and a saint
And a whole lot more that I ain't
I want this monkey
Off of my back
Now, people bad
Love's an addiction
Same as cocaine
And cheap whiskey, too
When you're a prisoner of love
That's all that you think of
You act confused
And you ain't got a clue
In Robert Cray's Labor of Love, the singer portrays himself as a heartbroken man, consumed by his love for a woman who is causing him a great deal of stress. He spends too much time and energy worrying about her problems and what she thinks of him. He confesses that he thought he had worked through all the heartaches, jealousy, anger, and pain that comes with love, but he is now struggling with desperate feelings that seem insurmountable. He is at the brink of his capacity and feels like he is doing it all over again.
The imagery in the song suggests that the singer is feeling overwhelmed by his love for this woman. He is awake late at night, making vows to himself that he can't keep, and crying himself to sleep. He provides a contrast between his idealized image of the woman he loves as both a devil and a saint, indicating that he is torn between the extremes of love and hate. The chorus of the song can be read as a plea for help or a statement of resignation, as the singer acknowledges that the labor of love might just be too much work for him. The final lines suggest that love can be as addicting as cocaine or cheap whiskey and he is a prisoner to this love, completely confused and without a clue.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm spending too much time
I'm dedicating most of my time to someone else
With her problems
Assisting in dealing with her difficulties
Worrying about
Being anxious about
What she might think
Concerned about her opinion of me
Her hold on my heart
The extent to which she has a grip or power over me
You know it drives me crazy
It frustrates and irritates me
And buddy, I'm on the brink
I'm almost at a breaking point
Thought I'd worked my way
Believed I had overcome
Through all of the heartaches
Past all the emotional pain
Jealously, anger and pain
Emotions that cause suffering and distress
But this feeling I've got
The sentiment I experience
It's so doggone desperate, man
It's exceedingly urgent and dire
I'll have to do it all over again
I'll have to repeat it
I'm awake late at night
I'm not asleep and it's late
An emotional fool
A silly person who is influenced by their feelings
Making vows to myself
Making promises to me
That I can't keep
That I'm unable to uphold
Another know it all
An additional person who thinks they know everything
Lonesome man of the world
A solitary man who is detached and dislikes restrictions
Who can't stop crying
Who is weeping without stop
Himself to sleep
Crying until unconsciousness
If push comes to shove
If circumstances become more difficult
Seems like this labor of love
Appears to be something I cannot maintain
Is just too much work for me
Is too much effort for me to give
I can't stop thinking about her
I'm continuously contemplating her
It's a sad but natural fact
It's regretful but typical
She's a devil and a saint
She has both good and bad qualities
And a whole lot more that I ain't
And many other traits I'm unaware of
I want this monkey
I wish to be rid of this problem
Off of my back
Out of my life or mind
Now, people bad
Individuals, in general, are problematic
Love's an addiction
Love has comparable properties to an addiction
Same as cocaine
Share the same characteristics as cocaine
And cheap whiskey, too
And even to cheap alcohol
When you're a prisoner of love
When you're confined by love
That's all that you think of
It's the only thing you can focus on
You act confused
You behave in a befuddled manner
And you ain't got a clue
And you're clueless
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Timothy Kaihatsu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind