Robert Cray (born August 1, 1953, Columbus, Georgia) is an American blues g… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Cray (born August 1, 1953, Columbus, Georgia) is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band (the Robert Cray Band), as well as an acclaimed solo career. In 2011, Cray was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.

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.

Midnight Stroll
Robert Cray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sunup till sundown
With every step I take
Sunup to sundown
With every step I take
I'll be thinking of you, baby
And the love we gonna make

Put your ear to listening

As soon as night time falls
Put your ear to listening
As soon as night time falls
Once the moon, moon comes up, baby
You'll hear my hungry call

Hmm, that means I want you so
Hmm, I want you so
Hmm, oh babe, let's do that midnight stroll

Look for a long, black Caddie
Driving up your street
Look for a long, black Caddie
Cruisin' up your street
And when I rev, rev my motor, baby
Good God, baby's gonna know that's me

Hmm, I want you so
Hmm, I need you to know
Hmm, oh babe, let's do that midnight stroll

Sunup till sundown
With every step I take
Sunup to sundown
With every step I take
Oh, and I'm thinkin' of you, thinkin' of you, baby
And all the love we gonna make

Hmm, I want you so
Hmm, I need you to know
Hmm, hey hey, let's do that midnight stroll

Let's stroll awhile
Hmm, let's go for a ride, babe
I've got the top down
Got Howlin' Wolf on the radio

Hmm, sunup to sundown
Let's ride awhile

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Robert Cray's song "Midnight Stroll" convey a sense of longing and desire for a romantic partner. The song speaks of taking steps from sunup till sundown while thinking of this person, and how the singer plans on going on a midnight stroll with his partner, expressing his yearning and craving for this person with each "Hmmm" in the chorus. The second verse of the song describes the singer's grand entrance to see his lover, arriving in a long, black Caddie that demands attention with its loud engine revving. The third verse switches the focus back to the singer's desire for his lover, wanting to take them for a ride listening to Howlin' Wolf on the radio into the early hours of the morning.

The song's sensual imagery conveys a romantic love that is passionate and all-consuming, as seen in the lyrics "Put your ear to listening, as soon as night time falls, once the moon, moon comes up, baby, you'll hear my hungry call." The lyrics and the music work together to create a mood of longing and desire, which is emphasized by the use of the Howlin' Wolf's blues music in the third verse. The song's structure is also noteworthy, with its repetition and incremental build-up to the thrilling conclusion of the midnight ride.

Line by Line Meaning

Sunup till sundown
From dawn till dusk

With every step I take
As I continue throughout the day

I'll be thinking of you, baby
Thoughts of my love for you will occupy my mind

Put your ear to listening
Listen carefully

As soon as night time falls
When the night sky arrives

Once the moon, moon comes up, baby
Once the moon rises

You'll hear my hungry call
You'll hear my yearning for you

Hmm, that means I want you so
This indicates my strong desire for you

Look for a long, black Caddie
Search for a black Cadillac car

Cruisin' up your street
Driving slowly on your street

And when I rev, rev my motor, baby
When I accelerate my car's engine