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.
Smoking Gun
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I call you on the phone
I get a strong uneasy feeling
You're not sitting there alone
I'm having nasty, nasty visions
And baby you're in every one, yeah
And I'm so afraid I'm gonna find you with
So-called smoking gun
Maybe you want to end it
You've had your fill of my kind of fun
But you don't know how to tell me
And you know that I'm not that dumb
I put two and one together
And you know that's not an even sum
And I know just where to catch you with
That well-known smokin' gun
I'm standing here bewildered
I can't remember just what I've done
I can hear the sirens whining
My eyes blinded by the sun
I know that I should be running
My heart's beating just like a drum
Now they've knocked me down and taken it
That still hot smokin' gun
Yeah still hot smokin' gun
They've taken it
Still hot and smokin' gun
Oh, they've taken it
Still hot and smokin' gun
They've knocked me down, they've taken it
Ooh-ooh
Aaah!
Robert Cray's "Smoking Gun" is a song that explores the paranoia of a man who suspects his girlfriend of cheating on him. In the first verse, he gets a constant busy signal when he tries to call her, leading him to think that she is not alone. He then has "nasty, nasty visions" where she appears to be with someone else or in compromising situations, which only increases his paranoia. The chorus makes it clear that he thinks she is cheating on him and will find her with the "smoking gun" - evidence that she is cheating.
In the second verse, the man confronts his girlfriend, suggesting that she wants to end their relationship but doesn't know how to tell him. He believes that she may be smarter than he thinks, and he feels foolish for not seeing the signs. He knows just where to catch her with the "well-known smoking gun," meaning that he has proof of her infidelity. The song ends with the man being taken down by the authorities, still in possession of the "smoking gun."
Overall, "Smoking Gun" is a cautionary tale of suspicion and infidelity. The man's paranoid thoughts lead him to act impulsively, and he ultimately suffers the consequences. The use of the "smoking gun" as a metaphor for evidence of infidelity is clever and adds to the song's overall message.
Line by Line Meaning
I get a constant busy signal
Whenever I call you, you never answer or make any effort to talk to me.
When I call you on the phone
I try to contact you through the phone.
I get a strong uneasy feeling
I feel worried and uneasy when I think about you.
You're not sitting there alone
You are accompanied by someone else.
I'm having nasty, nasty visions
I am imagining unpleasant and awful scenarios.
And baby you're in every one, yeah
You are always in my thoughts, even in these awful scenarios.
And I'm so afraid I'm gonna find you with
I am scared that I will discover something about you.
So-called smoking gun
A clear evidence that you have done something wrong.
Maybe you want to end it
Perhaps you want to break up with me.
You've had your fill of my kind of fun
You are tired of spending time with me and doing the things I enjoy.
But you don't know how to tell me
You are unsure how to communicate with me.
And you know that I'm not that dumb
You believe I am smart enough to understand what is going on.
I put two and one together
I have figured out what is happening.
And you know that's not an even sum
It does not add up logically or fairly.
And I know just where to catch you with
I am aware of where I can find the damning evidence.
That well-known smokin' gun
That evidence which makes it clear that you have done something wrong.
I'm standing here bewildered
I am confused and disoriented.
I can't remember just what I've done
I do not recall what actions I took.
I can hear the sirens whining
I can hear the sound of police or emergency vehicles.
My eyes blinded by the sun
The glare of the sun is making it hard for me to see.
I know that I should be running
I am aware that I should flee or escape.
My heart's beating just like a drum
My heart is pounding rapidly.
Now they've knocked me down and taken it
The authorities have apprehended me and taken the damning evidence.
That still hot smokin' gun
The evidence which proves what I have done.
Yeah still hot smokin' gun
Yes, the evidence is still strong and present.
They've taken it
The authorities have possession of the evidence.
Still hot and smokin' gun
The evidence is still fresh and incriminating.
Oh, they've taken it
Oh yes, the evidence is no longer in my possession.
Still hot and smokin' gun
The evidence is still clearly implicating me.
They've knocked me down, they've taken it
The authorities have subdued me and confiscated the evidence.
Ooh-ooh
A sound of pain or distress.
Aaah!
A sound of surprise or shock.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRUCE M. BROMBERG, RICHARD COUSINS, ROBERT CRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind