Robert Cray is an American blues guitarist, composer and singer.
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

Up and Down
The Robert Cray Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The good times have been used up
It looks like trouble will start falling down

The good times have been used up
It looks like trouble will start falling down

If I don't get some money
The future will no time to be around

I'll never wake up
If I don't stop and lay down

An' I'll never wake up
If I don't stop and lay myself down

But I can't sleep
And I'm afraid to make a sound

We used to stay up late
Drive around the town
We didn't need no money
We got it all with no money down

Oh, the good times have been used up
It look like my troubles will start falling down

If I don't get some money
The future will be no time to be around

To shame and a sin

Oh, yes

Overall Meaning

, these lyrics speak to the feeling of being at the end of your rope, of having used up all your good times and feeling trouble looming on the horizon. The singer is worried that if they don't get some money, the future won't be worth sticking around for. The line "I'll never wake up if I don't stop and lay down" suggests that the singer is so worn out emotionally and physically that they need to stop and rest or risk never waking up at all.

The repeated line "the good times have been used up" is a sad declaration of how these times are gone and will not be returning. The nostalgia in the lines "we used to stay up late, drive around the town / we didn't need no money, we got it all with no money down" highlights the contrast between the past and the present, between carefree days and the crushing weight of financial stress. And yet, the singer is still afraid to make a sound, to speak up or ask for help, and unable to sleep.

Line by Line Meaning

The good times have been used up
The enjoyable moments have come to an end

It looks like trouble will start falling down
It seems that difficulties will come up

If I don't get some money
If I don't obtain some cash

The future will no time to be around
There will be no future for me

I'll never wake up
I'll never be aware

If I don't stop and lay down
If I don't relax

An' I'll never wake up
And I'll never be aware

If I don't stop and lay myself down
If I don't take a break

But I can't sleep
But I'm unable to rest

And I'm afraid to make a sound
And I'm scared to produce noise

We used to stay up late
We used to remain awake till late