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.
Let Me Know
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hello my friend
How are you doing, baby today?
It's been a long time
But there's no peace of mind
Since you've been away
I've been learning and searching
But my heart won't let me
Get used to the blues
Crying, I keep on trying
To get over losing you
If you knew what
I've been through
You would have never left me this way
I try real hard to
Do what I need to do
And I'll let no one or nothing
Get in my way
Please
Tell me it's not so
Tell me that I'm dreamin
That you really didn't go
Oh
Let me know
Let me know
Oh, love
Was it that bad?
(guitar solo)
If you knew
What I've gone through
You would have never left me this way
I'm trying really hard to do
What I need to do
And I'll let no one or nothing
Get in my way
Please, my darling, my darling
If you're gonna go
Show some consideration and please just let me know
Let me know
Let me know
Oh love, was it that bad?
Oh love, was it that bad?
Oh love
In Robert Cray's "Let Me Know," the singer is speaking to an old friend or lover who left without warning. The singer addresses his friend with a sense of familiarity, asking how they're doing since they left because he's feeling upset ever since they went away. He's been trying to move on and forget about them, but he can't seem to shake off the blues.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is feeling depressed and lonely, having gone through a difficult time since his friend left. He's been trying to stay strong and continue with life, but he can't help but wonder why his friend left and if their departure was due to something he did. The singer asks his friend to let him know what's going on and why they left. The song's lyrics are simple and straightforward in conveying an emotional message of longing for love and companionship.
The song's melancholic lyrics are paired with Cray's soulful guitar playing, creating a classic bluesy sound that conveys the singer's pain and musical expressions. The guitar solo halfway through the song acts as a release of all the emotions building up through the lyrics, giving the song an extra layer of authenticity and depth. "Let Me Know" is a heart-wrenching plea to an old friend asking them to return or offer some closure to a broken relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello
Opening greeting
Hello my friend
Greeting with familiarity, recognizing the person addressed as being close
How are you doing, baby today?
Enquiry about the person's well-being with warmth and affection
It's been a long time
Acknowledgment of significant period of silence
But there's no peace of mind
The artist has not felt at ease since the recipient of the song has been away
Since you've been away
Illustrating a cause-and-effect relationship for the singer's emotional state
I've been learning and searching
The singer has been trying to find ways of coping with the hurt they are going through
All things through
The artist has been exploring different avenues to make sense of their pain
But my heart won't let me
Despite trying to move on, the artist's emotional attachment to the other person has held them back
Get used to the blues
The emotional pain has become a regular experience for the artist
Crying, I keep on trying
Despite repeated setbacks, the singer is still trying to get over the loss of the other person
To get over losing you
The artist is trying to cope and move on, but is finding it challenging to function
If you knew what
The singer is expressing how extensive their hurt is
I've been through
The singer is suffering from the other person's departure
You would have never left me this way
The singer is hurt and may have held the other person responsible for their current pain
I try real hard to
The artist is putting in effort to cope with life without the other person
Do what I need to do
The artist is trying to carry on with their day-to-day activities without the other person's presence
And I'll let no one or nothing
The singer is determined to focus on rebuilding their life and will not allow anyone to derail their progress
Get in my way
Determination to progress unencumbered by other forces
Please
Introducing an appeal
Tell me it's not so
The artist is inquiring about a particular concern they may have
Tell me that I'm dreamin
Questioning the reality of a problem
That you really didn't go
Stating the nature of the issue troubling the singer (perhaps, break-up)
Oh
An expression of exasperation
Let me know
Request for accuracy or confirmation of a fact
Let me know
Restating the request for accuracy
Oh, love
Addressing the recipient of the song with endearment
Was it that bad?
Requesting more information or explanation from the other person concerning the issue at hand
(guitar solo)
Instrumental break in the song. No direct meaning; adds musical variety for audience
If you knew
The singer is insisting on expressing how hurtful the other person's departure has been
What I've gone through
Details of the extent of the singer's hurt
You would have never left me this way
The expressive extent of the artist's pain
I'm trying really hard to do
The artist is making a concerted effort to move on, in spite of the emotional pain felt
What I need to do
Focusing, albeit with difficulty, on recovering from the loss and moving on
And I'll let no one or nothing
Determination to rebuild life without being affected or interfered with by anyone
Get in my way
Reaffirming the determination to go through life unencumbered by external forces
Please, my darling, my darling
Requesting the partner's attention with affection and endearment
If you're gonna go
Preparing the partner for any anticipated departure (physical or emotional)
Show some consideration and please just let me know
Appeal to the partner to be upfront and honest if they plan on leaving
Let me know
Requesting for fair dealing
Let me know
Restating the request for fairness
Oh love, was it that bad?
An expression of confusion and doubt about the extent of the hurt that led to separation
Contributed by Ian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.