Robert Cray Performing Right Next Door

Music video by Robert Cray performing Right Next Door (Because Of Me).
(C) 1986 The Island Def Jam Music Group.

Right up there with Stevie Ray Vaughan,
Eric Clapton and B.B. King as a guitarist. Cray is one of the most underrated guitarst alive! The cleanest blues vocalist and guitar player ever!

“Cray has been around for some time now – he released his first LP, ‘Who’s Been Talking’ in 1980, two more LPs on Hightone label followed in 1983 and 1985 and these, and his growing reputation as a live performer were enough to get him invited to play with Albert Collins (a personal hero of his) and Johnny Copeland on the Alligator release “Showdown!” in 1985 –

That lead to his being signed by Mercury and the release of “Strong Persuader” and the pop crossover hit ‘Smoking Gun’ – the song was both a blessing and a curse –

For many, Cray is too “pop” for blues and too “blues” for pop – that doesn’t seem to bother him at all and he continues to record and perform –

He remained with Mercury from 1986 to 1997, releasing seven LPs on the label. In 1999 he released “Take Your Shoes Off” on Rykodisc.

Working with producer Steve Jordan, Cray steps outside the blues box and goes for a Memphis Soul sound, aligned more to Willie Mitchell’s Hi Records rather than Stax.”
— Richard Orlando

Lyrics:
I can hear the couple fighting right next door
Angry words sound clear through these thin walls
Around midnight I heard him shout “unfaithful woman”
And I knew right then the axe was gonna to fall

It’s because of me, it’s because of me
Because of me, it’s because of me

I heard him shout “Who is he?”, she mumbled low
He said “Baby don’t you lie to me no more!”
And I’m listening through these thin walls in silent shame
As she called out my name I was right next door

It’s because of me, it’s because of me
Because of me, it’s because of me

Oh she was right next door and I’m such a strong persuader
And she was just another notch on my guitar
She’s gonna lose the man that really loves her
In the silence I can hear their breaking hearts

Oh ou ou

At daybreak I hear him pack and say goodbye
I can hear him slam the door and walk away
Right next door I hear that woman start to cry
I should go to her, but what would I say?

It’s because of me, it’s because of me
Because of me, young blood