Steve Conte is the guitarist & lead singer in the bands The Contes and Crow… Read Full Bio ↴Steve Conte is the guitarist & lead singer in the bands The Contes and Crown Jewels, and is the current lead guitarist of Michael Monroe's solo band. He was also the lead guitarist for the legendary New York Dolls for a few years. Conte first became known to the music industry through his band Company of Wolves (Mercury Records) in the early 1990s. Steve has done studio and/or live work with artists such as Peter Wolf, Willy DeVille, Maceo Parker, Billy Squier, Suzi Quatro, Jill Jones, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Phoebe Snow, David Johansen & The Harry Smiths, Chuck Berry, Willie Nile and many others.

He has also worked with composer Yoko Kanno and lyricist Tim Jensen in music for several anime series. Steve Conte sang the opening theme, "Stray", as well as some other songs that are featured on the Studio BONES anime series Wolf's Rain. The Cowboy Bebop TV series and movie include a number of songs performed by Conte, and he also sings the ending theme song of Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd Gig, "Living Inside the Shell". He also participated on Yoko Kanno's original album, Song to Fly.

Stray
Steve Conte Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Stray! Stray!
In the cold breeze that I walk along
The memories of generations burn within me
Been forever since I cried the pain and sorrow
I live and die, proud of my people gaining

I'm here standing at the edge
Starin' up at where the moon should be

Stray!
No regrets 'cause I got nothin' to lose
Ever stray!
So I'm gonna live my life as I choose
Until I fall

Stray! Stray!
Stray! Stray!

In the white freeze, I never spoke of tears
Or opened up to anyone including myself
I would like to find a way to open to you
Been awhile, don't know if I remember how to

I'm here waiting on the edge
Would I be alright showing myself to you?
It's always been so hard to do

Stray!
No regrets 'cause I got nothin' to lose
Ever stray!
So I'm gonna live my life as I choose
Until I fall

Stray! Stray!
Stray! Stray!
Stray! Stray!

Is there a place left there for me
Somewhere that I belong
Or will I always live this way ?
Always stray

No regrets 'cause I got nothin to lose
Ever stray!
So I'm gonna live my life as I choose
Cause all things fall

Stray! Stray!
Stray! Stray!
Stray! Stray!

Stray

Overall Meaning

in Steve Conte's song represents a sense of freedom and individuality. The singer describes walking along in the cold breeze with memories of the past burning within them, but they have not cried in a long time. They live and die proud of their people's gaining, indicating a sense of ancestral pride. The singer is standing at the edge, staring up at where the moon should be, implying a feeling of being lost or disconnected. They have no regrets because they have nothing to lose, which is why they live their life as they choose until they fall.

In the next stanza, the singer mentions being in the white freeze and never speaking of tears or opening up to anyone, not even to themselves. They wish to find a way to open up to someone and are waiting on the edge, wondering if they would be alright showing themselves to someone else. The singer realizes that it has been hard for them to be vulnerable and open.

The song ends with the singer wondering if there is a place for them to belong or if they will always be a stray. They have no regrets and will live their lives as they choose because all things fall.

Line by Line Meaning

Stray! Stray!
Repeating the command to stray and be free

In the cold breeze that I walk along
Walking in a chilly environment

The memories of generations burn within me
Being deeply connected to one's past

Been forever since I cried the pain and sorrow
Being strong and resistant to emotional pain

I live and die, proud of my people gaining
Being proud of one's community and heritage

I'm here standing at the edge
Being at the boundary of one's comfort zone

Starin' up at where the moon should be
Contemplating the night sky

No regrets 'cause I got nothin' to lose
Not being afraid of taking risks

So I'm gonna live my life as I choose
Making one's own choices and being in control

Until I fall
Continuing to live without giving up

In the white freeze, I never spoke of tears
Being emotionally reserved during difficult times