The band released their first album on vinyl, Self Non Self in July 1989. The intensity of that album garnered very good reviews and caught the attention of John Peel, who picked up on the album right away, with the group recording a session for him in the album's first week of release. Shortly afterwards they signed to the label Dedicated (which also became home to Spiritualized and Beth Orton) and went on to record their EP "Espero" in 1990, with the album "Wings of Joy" following a year later. The release of "Wings of Joy" caught the attention of Robert Smith of The Cure who picked the Cranes to open for them on their world tour in 1992. They then went on to record the albums "Forever" (1993), "Loved" (1994), "La Tragedie d'Oreste et Electre" (1995), and "Population Four" (1997).
After a 4 year break, Cranes re-emerged on their own independent label Dadaphonic to release "Future Songs" (2001) and "Particles & Waves" (2004), which saw the band heading in a more electronic direction while retaining the trademark sound of previous releases. In January 2007 the band released a download only album, "Live at Amsterdam Paradiso," originally recorded in 1991. The show captures the darker, heavier days of the early Cranes and is available only via www.dadaphonic.co.uk.
In 2008 Cranes albums "Wings of Joy', 'Forever' and 'Loved' were re-issued by Cherry Red Records, www.cherryred.co.uk as part of their series of 'influential artists' re-releases.
In October 2008 Cranes released their self titled album 'Cranes', to which they did a supporting tour. After that there was the odd performance here and there up until 2012 after which Cranes fell silent again.
In 2022 they re-emerged with several newly opened social media accounts to which the purpose soon became clear: Cranes have reformed in their original nineties line-up to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the "Forever" album with some gigs in the UK (see events) and they are currently rehearsing.
In June 2023 they also released a 'new' album: their previously unreleased "Peel Sessions 1989-1990" which you can get on their Bandcamp site (see Linktree below) both digitally and on CD/Vinyl.
Current members
Alison Shaw – vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar (1985–1997, 2000–present)
Jim Shaw – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums (1985–1997, 2000–present)
Mark Francombe – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, spanner (1989–1997, 2022-present)
Matt Cope – guitar (1989–1997, 2022-present)
Former members:
Kevin Dunford – lead guitar (1988–1989)
Paul Smith – guitar, keyboards (1995–1997, 2000–2012)
Manu Ross – drums (1996–1997)
Ben Baxter – bass guitar (2000–2012)
Jon Callender – drums (2000–2007)
Jon Mattock – drums (2008–2012)
Cranes official Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cranesofficial
Can't Get Free
Cranes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As she turns away she looks so sweet to you
She looks so cool, she passes by
and now you son't know what to do
...If she could see through your eyes...
You've been through this a thousand times
And though you really did try
You wonder to yourself
How come I messed up all the things we had...?
How can it be...?
Why can't I see..?
Just can't get free..
It just can't be...
...You see her every day
Oh ..but now she's gone..
She's really on her way
You should have known,
You had your chance
But now she's really gone away
...But for her eyes that are blue
There's nothing that you wouldn't do...
She's in you rheart...
She's in your heart...
Uh ..Uh ..ohhh
You love her so
I think you know..
Oh.. Oh.. Oh
...So now you watch her go ..
There's nothing left to say
She;s really on her way
So yougo your own way, she goes hers
Yeah yeah.. Into another day..
But for her eyes that are blue
There's nothing that you wouldn't do
You think if she only knew...
The lyrics of Cranes's song Can't Get Free describe a man's struggle in moving on from a past love. The song opens with the man seeing the woman he once loved walking down the street. He sees her as she turns away and thinks she looks sweet, cool and beautiful. He is simultaneously filled with emotions of fondness and nostalgia as memories of their past happy times together come flooding back. However, he is now left confused and doesn't know what to do as he tries to come to terms with the fact that it is all over between them.
As the song progresses, the man reflects on the many times he has tried to move on from his past love but always finds himself stuck in the memory of her. He wonders how he managed to mess up the things they had together and why he finds it so hard to let go. The man also contemplates how different his life would have been if he had managed to hold on to the love of his life.
Towards the end of the song, the man acknowledges that his love is in his heart, but he has to accept that she has moved on. He watches her walk away, knowing there is nothing left to say. It is clear that the woman still holds a powerful place in his heart, and he would do anything for her if only she knew.
Line by Line Meaning
She's walking down the street ...
The singer observes a woman walking down the street, who looks attractive to him.
As she turns away she looks so sweet to you
The woman's beauty is captivating to the singer even as she turns away from him.
She looks so cool, she passes by
The woman's demeanor, as she walks by, appears calm and collected to the singer.
and now you son't know what to do
The singer is unsure of how to react to the woman's presence.
...If she could see through your eyes...
The singer wishes the woman could see the admiration he feels for her.
You've been through this a thousand times
The singer has experienced unrequited love numerous times before.
And though you really did try
Despite his efforts, the singer's romantic gestures have not been appreciated.
You can't forget those happy times
The singer is unable to let go of past memories with the woman.
You wonder to yourself
The singer is preoccupied with thoughts about the missed opportunity he had with the woman.
How come I messed up all the things we had...?
The singer regrets mistakes he made that led to losing the chance with the woman.
How can it be...?
The singer is perplexed by his inability to let go of his feelings for the woman.
Why can't I see..?
The singer is aware of his infatuation with the woman but still cannot perceive the reality of the situation.
Just can't get free..
The singer feels trapped by his emotions, unable to move on from his feelings for the woman.
It just can't be...
The singer has difficulty accepting the fact that the woman is gone and he cannot change what has already transpired.
...You see her every day
The singer encounters the woman on a daily basis.
Oh ..but now she's gone..
The woman is no longer present in the singer's life.
She's really on her way
The woman has made the decision to depart from the singer's life.
You should have known,
The singer regrets not taking a chance with the woman when he had the opportunity.
You had your chance
The singer acknowledges that he had a chance with the woman but failed to seize it.
But now she's really gone away
The woman has departed, and the singer has lost his chance with her forever.
...But for her eyes that are blue
The singer is enthralled by the woman's blue eyes.
There's nothing that you wouldn't do...
The singer is willing to go to great lengths to please the woman.
She's in you rheart...
The singer cannot shake his feelings for the woman, and they remain embedded in his heart.
She's in your heart...
The woman occupies a significant place in the singer's heart.
Uh ..Uh ..ohhh
The singer vocalizes his inability to let go of his love for the woman.
You love her so
The singer has a deep and intense love for the woman.
I think you know..
The singer is aware of his feelings but is uncertain about what to do with them.
Oh.. Oh.. Oh
The singer vocalizes his emotions of longing and sadness.
...So now you watch her go ..
The singer helplessly watches as the woman departs from his life, with no power to change the outcome.
There's nothing left to say
The singer has run out of words to express his feelings to the woman.
She;s really on her way
The woman has definitively decided to move on from the guy and proceed with her life.
So yougo your own way, she goes hers
The singer and the woman have decided to part ways, and their lives are now headed in different directions.
Yeah yeah.. Into another day
The singer and the woman have parted ways, moving on to the next day of their separate lives.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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