With ba… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Cray is an American blues guitarist, composer and singer.
With bassist Richard Cousins, keyboardist Peter Boe and drummer Tom Murphy, they launched The Robert Cray Band in 1980 with "Who's Been Talkin". The album was recorded during constant touring in the U.S. in 1978. The record was initially shelved for two years, being eventually issued by the short-lived Tomato label (whose licence was picked up by "Atlantic Records" (U.S.) and "Charly" in the UK.
After several years of regional success, Cray was signed to Mercury in 1982. It was the connection with the producing and songwriting team of Bruce Bromberg and Dennis Walker at Hightone that helped to create the mold-breaking music of "Bad Influence" (1983) and "False Accusations" (1985).
In 1984, The Robert Cray Band completed their first European tour to critical acclaim. Cray's participation with Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland on "Showdown!" (1985, Alligator) and the 1986 album release, "Strong Persuader", again produced by Walker, both received Grammy Awards, while the crossover single "Smoking Gun" gave him wider appeal and name recognition. During 1986 Cray played 170 concerts, including his seventh European tour since 1984, building on his increasing reputation in the UK.
The Robert Cray Band's next album "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" (1988) was recorded in Los Angeles, California, and featured David Sanborn on guest saxophone. The title song from the album won Cray his third Grammy, and he guested on Eric Clapton's "Journeyman", whilst also being on the bill at Clapton's eighteen show marathon at the Royal Albert Hall in London. In 1991 Cray was selected to present Howlin' Wolf's induction trophy to Wolf's widow, Lilly Burnett, at the sixth annual "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" Awards. Later that year Cray took part in the "Newport Jazz Festival" with B. B. King and John Lee Hooker.
Cray issued his following records under his own name, Robert Cray
It's All Gone
The Robert Cray Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's on your mind?
Could it be that what you feel for me
Is getting hard to find?
You say you're falling out of love
Girl I can't believe
That it's all gone
You're movin on now
Listen when I tell you, sugar
I'm so in love with you
But the words falling from your lips
Seem to say we're through
All these thoughts that I can't bear
Tell me it's not true
That it's all wrong
Oh, girl
You're movin on now
I'm holdin on
Oh, lord
Don't leave me alone now
I know you've got your needs
But I beg you please
Yeah
Cause when your love comes down
I want it all, I want it all for me
Yeah
How you gonna do it, baby?
Make a blind man see
That it's all gone
Oh, yeah
You're movin on now
Don't take it all away now baby
With nothing in return
Cause if you're trying to teach me something
When am I gonna learn, now?
That it's all gone
Oh, yeah
You're movin on now
Don't break my heart, girl
You are my world
Yeah
You say our love is tumblin down
But that's a sound
I don't wanna hear
Nah
How you gonna do it, baby?
Make a blind man see
That's it's all gone
Oh, yeah
You're movin on, girl
And it won't be long
Oh, lord
Till you're gone, now
It's much too strong
Oh, yeah
Don't leave me alone, girl
I'm holding on
Oh, yeah
Am I so wrong?
In the song "It's All Gone" by The Robert Cray Band, the singer is talking to their partner about the potential end of their relationship. The singer begs their partner to express their feelings and thoughts so they can figure out where they stand with each other. The singer expresses their intense love for their partner and cannot bear the thought of losing them. The partner seems to be falling out of love, and the singer is scared of being left alone. However, the partner is not providing any reassurance or clarity to the singer.
The song's lyrics express the universal feeling of heartbreak and vulnerability in a relationship. The chorus, "That it's all gone, oh yeah, you're moving on now," amplifies the pain felt by the singer of losing their love. The repetition of "moving on" showcases how their partner is ready to move on from their relationship.
One of the most interesting facts about the song "It's All Gone" is that the band's frontman Robert Cray wrote the song with Johnnie Johnson, Chuck Berry's former pianist. Another interesting fact is that the song was released as a single in 1986 and peaked at #86 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song can also be found on The Robert Cray Band's fifth studio album, "Strong Persuader." The album won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 1987. The band continues to perform the song in their live shows.
The chords for the song are A, D, G, C, and F.
Verse:
A D
Tell what you're thinkin', baby
G C
What's on your mind?
A D
Could it be that what you feel for me
G C
Is getting hard to find?
Chorus:
F
That it's all gone
C G
Oh yeah, you're moving on now
F
That it's all gone
C G
Oh yeah, you're moving on now
Verse:
A D
Listen when I tell you, sugar
G C
I'm so in love with you
A D
But the words falling from your lips
G C
Seem to say we're through
Chorus:
F
That it's all gone
C G
Oh yeah, you're moving on now
F
That it's all gone
C G
Oh yeah, you're moving on now
Bridge:
A
I'm holdin' on, oh Lord
D
Don't leave me alone now
G
I know you've got your needs
C
But I beg you please, yeah
Chorus:
F
That it's all gone
C G
Oh yeah, you're moving on now
F
That it's all gone
C G
Oh yeah, you're moving on now
Outro:
A
Don't take it all away now, baby
D
With nothing in return
G
Cause' if you're trying to teach me something
C
When am I gonna learn now?
Line by Line Meaning
Tell what you're thinkin, baby
The singer wants to know what is on the other person's mind.
What's on your mind?
The singer is asking the other person what they are thinking about.
Could it be that what you feel for me
Is getting hard to find?
The singer wonders if the other person's feelings for them are diminishing.
You say you're falling out of love
Girl I can't believe
That it's all gone
Oh, yeah
You're movin on now
The other person tells the artist they are falling out of love, which the artist finds hard to believe. The other person is leaving.
Listen when I tell you, sugar
I'm so in love with you
But the words falling from your lips
Seem to say we're through
The artist confesses their love for the other person, but the other person's words indicate the relationship is over.
All these thoughts that I can't bear
Tell me it's not true
That it's all wrong
Oh, girl
You're movin on now
I'm holdin on
Oh, lord
Don't leave me alone now
The singer is struggling with thoughts that the relationship is over. The other person is leaving, but the singer is trying to hold on to them.
I know you've got your needs
But I beg you please
Yeah
Cause when your love comes down
I want it all, I want it all for me
Yeah
The singer understands that the other person has needs, but still wants all of their love and attention for themselves.
How you gonna do it, baby?
Make a blind man see
That it's all gone
Oh, yeah
You're movin on now
The artist questions how the other person can make them see that the relationship is over. The other person is leaving.
Don't take it all away now baby
With nothing in return
Cause if you're trying to teach me something
When am I gonna learn, now?
That it's all gone
Oh, yeah
You're movin on now
The artist pleads for the other person not to end the relationship without giving anything in return. They wonder when they will learn that the other person is leaving.
Don't break my heart, girl
You are my world
Yeah
You say our love is tumblin down
But that's a sound
I don't wanna hear
Nah
The artist asks the other person not to break their heart because they mean everything to them. The other person says the love is falling apart, but the artist doesn't want to hear it.
How you gonna do it, baby?
Make a blind man see
That's it's all gone
Oh, yeah
You're movin on, girl
And it won't be long
Oh, lord
Till you're gone, now
It's much too strong
Oh, yeah
Don't leave me alone, girl
I'm holding on
Oh, yeah
Am I so wrong?
The singer questions how the other person can make them see that the relationship is over. The other person is leaving and it won't be long until they are gone. The singer doesn't want to be left alone and wonders if they are wrong for wanting to hold on.
Contributed by Jordan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.