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.

Nothing Against You
Robert Cray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nothing against you
I don't speak
If I pass you by
Look away when we meet
If I turn my back
And walk the other way

Just leave me alone

To myself for awhile
And believe
It's nothing against you

Now don't get me wrong
If I don't call
If I don't write
Or let you hear from me at all
If I pull my shades
When you knock on the door

Just leave me alone
To myself for awhile
And believe
Nothing against you

Oh, I won't see no one
Leave me alone
You don't need to see me suffer
And hear me weep and moan

Oh, it's hard enough
Just tryin' to face the day
So I don't need none of that
Sorry and all that crap just go away

Don't take offense
When I turn you down
But since she's been gone
I don't want anyone around
Just don't be worried about me
I know what I'm doing

Just leave me alone
To myself for awhile
And believe
It's nothing against you

Nothing against you
Oh, leave me alone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Robert Cray's song "Nothing Against You" speaks about someone who needs time alone to deal with the pain of losing someone they love. The singer doesn't want to be around people, even those who care about them, and they may seem cold or distant. They want to be left alone to grieve and process their emotions. However, they want those around them to understand that their behavior is not personal, and it is not due to any dislike or resentment towards them.

The singer's actions may be hard to understand, but it is a common way of dealing with the pain of loss. Grieving is a personal journey that everyone must take at their own pace, and some people need to do it alone. It is also evident that the singer is not ready to move on, indicated by the line "Since she's been gone, I don't want anyone around." They may still be deeply in love with the person they lost, and they are not ready to start any new relationships.

In conclusion, "Nothing Against You" is a song about dealing with grief and needing space to process emotions. The singer's behavior may seem cold and distant, but it is not a reflection of their feelings towards anyone else. It is a personal journey that they need to take on their own terms.

Line by Line Meaning

Nothing against you
I have no issue with you personally

I don't speak
I don't want to engage in conversation

If I pass you by
If I see you, I'll ignore you

Look away when we meet
I won't make eye contact when we cross paths

If I turn my back
I'm not interested in interacting with you

And walk the other way
I'm intentionally avoiding you

Just leave me alone
Please don't bother me

To myself for awhile
I need some space

And believe
Trust me

Now don't get me wrong
Don't misunderstand me

If I don't call
I won't contact you