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.
Where Do I Go From Here
Robert Cray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After all these lovin' years
After I figured
She'd always be near
After my tears dry I want to know
Where do I go from here?
Thought I'd never have to choose
Oh, I thought that our lovin'
I'd never, never, never lose
I wasn't prepared for the heartache
I wasn't prepared to pay more dues, no
After all those years
All my ways were set
Change comes hard
Oh, but you can sure enough bet
I'll find a new road
Poor Bob ain't found it yet
Now where do I go from here?
I thought I'd never have to choose
I thought that our lovin'
I'd never, never, never lose
I wasn't prepared for the heartaches
Wasn't prepared to pay more dues, no
The lyrics to Robert Cray’s song “Where Do I Go From Here” are a reflection on the singer's heartbreak and confusion after a long-standing relationship has ended. The opening lines, “She’s gone, after all these lovin' years,” set the tone for the rest of the song - the singer feels lost and disoriented without their partner. The next lines, “After I figured she'd always be near / After my tears dry I want to know / Where do I go from here?” show that the singer is struggling to accept that the relationship is over and is trying to figure out how to move on.
The repeated refrain “Where do I go from here?” emphasizes the singer’s disorientation and uncertainty. The lines, “Thought I'd never have to choose / Oh, I thought that our lovin' / I'd never, never, never lose,” speak to the singer's disbelief that the love they once shared could come to an end. The lines, “I wasn't prepared for the heartache / I wasn't prepared to pay more dues, no” show that the singer is struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship and the pain that comes with it.
Overall, the lyrics to “Where Do I Go From Here” convey a sense of loss and confusion as the singer tries to figure out what their next steps are after a difficult breakup.
Line by Line Meaning
She's gone
The person he loved is not with him anymore
After all these lovin' years
They were in love for a long time
After I figured
He believed he would always be with her
She'd always be near
He thought she would never leave
After my tears dry I want to know
After he has cried for a while, he would like to understand
Where do I go from here?
He does not know what to do next after his heartbreak
Thought I'd never have to choose
He believed he would never have to make this decision
Oh, I thought that our lovin'
He assumed their love would never end
I'd never, never, never lose
He never realized he could lose her
I wasn't prepared for the heartache
He was not ready for the emotional pain
I wasn't prepared to pay more dues, no
He was not ready to put in more work and effort to have a happy relationship
After all those years
They were together for a long time
All my ways were set
He had his life planned out with her
Change comes hard
He is finding it difficult to accept things have changed
Oh, but you can sure enough bet
He is determined to move on and make a new life for himself
I'll find a new road
He is going to find a new path for his future
Poor Bob ain't found it yet
He has not yet discovered what he is looking for
Now where do I go from here?
He is still lost and unsure of what to do next
I thought I'd never have to choose
He was not ready to make the decision of what to do after his partner left
I thought that our lovin'
He believed their love would last forever
I'd never, never, never lose
He never expected to lose her
I wasn't prepared for the heartaches
He was not ready for the emotional pain he feels now
Wasn't prepared to pay more dues, no
He did not expect to have to invest more time and effort to make their relationship work
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CRAY, VANNICE, WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind