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.
These Things
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, these things
Hey, baby, thought you were my friend
Steppin' out, playin' around
All of these things, baby
Really let me down
Oh, and I know you're gonna miss me
Early one mornin'
I got out of bed
I thought about our happiness, yes I did
That we left was dead
I love you, I need you
Oh, these things, baby, still run through my head
Oh, and I know you're gonna miss my lovin' baby
One of these old days, yes you will
Early one mornin'
When I got out of bed, yeah
I thought about our happiness, yes I did
Long left for dead
And oh baby I love you
And oh baby I need you
All of these things, baby
Still run through my head
Oh, and I know
You're gonna miss me
One of these old days
Yes, you will
All because of these things
All because of these things
Steppin' out, dead love
Playin' around, hey baby
Thought you were my friend
It's all because of these things
These things, these things, these things
It's all because of these things, these things
Robert Cray's song "These Things" is a melancholy and soulful ballad that explores the emotions of a failed relationship. The lyrics revolve around the idea that certain actions from one partner have led to the breakdown of their love. The chorus is a lament for the betrayal and heartbreak caused by the other partner's infidelity, "These things made our love come to an end / Oh, these things / Hey, baby, thought you were my friend / Steppin' out, playin' around / All of these things, baby / Really let me down."
In the verses, Cray reflects on his feelings for his former partner and the moments when he realized their love was dying. He remembers how his love and devotion were unreturned, and how painful it was to realize that their relationship was ending. Despite the hurt, he still feels a deep longing for his ex, as reflected in the lines "Oh baby I love you / And oh baby I need you / All of these things, baby / Still run through my head."
The lyrics form a poignant and introspective look at a romance gone sour, exploring the emotions of betrayal, longing, and heartache that come with a failed relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
These things made our love come to an end
There were certain actions or events that led to the end of our love that we shared.
Oh, these things
These things that made our love come to an end are significant and have left a strong impression.
Hey, baby, thought you were my friend
I believed that you were not just a lover but a true friend, but your actions reveal that this was not the case.
Steppin' out, playin' around
You cheated on me and betrayed my trust by having an affair or multiple affairs.
All of these things, baby
All the different things you did that hurt me, including cheating, led to our separation.
Really let me down
Your actions caused me great disappointment and hurt, leading to our breakup.
Oh, and I know you're gonna miss me
I know that you will eventually realize what you have lost and miss me.
One of these old days
At some point in the future, you will feel the regret of letting me go.
Early one mornin'
One morning, I woke up thinking about what went wrong in our relationship.
I got out of bed
I got out of bed, still burdened by thoughts of you and our failed love.
That we left was dead
Our love had died, and there was no chance of resurrecting it.
I love you, I need you
I still have feelings of love and longing for you despite the pain you caused me.
Oh, these things, baby, still run through my head
I cannot erase the memories of what you did, and they continue to affect me emotionally.
And oh baby I love you
My love for you persists despite the pain you caused me.
And oh baby I need you
I still feel the need for your presence in my life despite the events that led to our breakup.
Oh, and I know You're gonna miss my lovin' baby
I know that when you reflect on our relationship, you will realize the depth of love and affection I provided.
One of these old days, yes you will
You will eventually recognize and feel the weight of what you lost by losing me and our love.
All because of these things
Our relationship ended due to the events and actions that took place between us.
Steppin' out, dead love
Your infidelity and disloyalty killed the love between us.
Playin' around, hey baby
Your actions of cheating and deception caused the monumental shift in how I viewed our relationship and your character.
It's all because of these things
Our breakup was not due to a lack of chemistry or compatibility, but rather the result of your actions of betrayal and infidelity.
These things, these things, these things
The numerous events and actions that led to the end of our relationship are deeply ingrained in my mind and emotions.
It's all because of these things, these things
The sum total of these various events and actions was the undoing of our love and partnership.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Robert Cray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind