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
On Top Of The World
Cranes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A flame of our love, a flame without end
We touch awhile, say Goodbye again
Here's to love and our scattered friends...
On top of the world... our day without end,
the hope in your heart is starting to mend
And you know where you are at this time in your life,
Here's the love
On which we depend
Here's to love
And our scattered friends
The lyrics to "On Top of the World" by Cranes are a melancholy reflection on the transient nature of love and the comfort found in memories of past relationships. Beginning with the lines, "Like all our love that comes to an end / A flame of our love, a flame without end," the song acknowledges the inevitability of romantic breakups and the way in which the fire of love can continue to burn even after a relationship has ended. The reference to a "flame without end" suggests both the all-consuming nature of passion and the way in which the memory of an old flame can persist long after the relationship has faded away.
The chorus of the song celebrates the feeling of being "on top of the world," a metaphor for the intense joy and sense of possibility that comes with being deeply in love. The lyrics suggest that this sense of being on top of the world is not limited to the present moment but can be sustained over time; "our day without end" suggests that the happiness and connection felt in a loving relationship can create a lasting sense of fulfillment. The final lines, "Here's the love / On which we depend / Here's to love / And our scattered friends," reinforce the idea that love is something that brings meaning and richness to our lives even when our relationships ultimately come to an end.
Line by Line Meaning
Like all our love that comes to an end
The way our love ended is similar to how all love ultimately ends.
A flame of our love, a flame without end
Our love was like a never-ending flame.
We touch awhile, say Goodbye again
We briefly reconnect, only to part ways once more.
Here's to love and our scattered friends...
Let's raise a toast to both love and the friends we have lost touch with over time.
On top of the world... our day without end,
We feel like we are on top of the world, with nothing but endless possibilities ahead of us.
The hope in your heart is starting to mend
Your heart is beginning to heal from past wounds and you are optimistic about the future.
And you know where you are at this time in your life,
You have a clear understanding of your current situation and place in life.
Under your Star and it's shining so bright..
You are guided by a bright, shining star that lights your path.
Here's the love
This is what love is like.
On which we depend
We rely on love to get us through life's challenges.
Here's to love
Let's celebrate the power of love.
And our scattered friends
And the friends we have lost touch with over time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICK NIELSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind