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
September
Cranes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you just hold on to me
It would make me happy
If you just hold on to me
I won't feel so empty
With our eyes closed tightly
Just as close as we can be
Oh, these times were precious to me
Overwhelming happy dreams
I'd close my eyes and make believe
Like in summer, all the leaves
Blew and all would fall down the stream
Overwhelming beautiful dreams
And I can't feel
And I can't sleep
And I can't hear
And I can't see
And if I never feel again
And if this is truly the end
Then you better say goodbye
But I loved you
Just wanted you to know
I'm so sorry I never told you so
I've loved you
Just wanted you to know
So sorry I never told you so
I've loved you
Just wanted you to know
So sorry I never told you so
I've loved you
Just wanted you to know
So sorry I never told you so
Cranes' song "September" is a wistful, melancholic piece about love and regret. The singer laments her inability to express her love to the object of her affection, and muses on the fleeting nature of happiness and dreams. The opening lines of the song, "If you just hold on to me, it would make me happy. If you just hold on to me, I won't feel so empty," convey a sense of longing and emotional dependence. The singer is in need of affirmation and validation, and seeks solace in the physical presence of her partner. The lines "With our eyes closed tightly, just as close as we can be, like a rainbow made just for me, these times were precious to me," describe a moment of intimacy and connection, a moment the singer wishes she could hold on to forever.
The song's chorus, "And if I never feel again, and if this is truly the end, then you better say goodbye. But I loved you, just wanted you to know, I'm so sorry I never told you so," contains some of the song's most poignant lines. Here, the singer confronts the possibility of loss and separation, and plaintively expresses her love for the person she's addressing. The repetition of "I've loved you, just wanted you to know, so sorry I never told you so," adds to the song's sense of regret and missed opportunities.
Overall, "September" is a song that captures the bittersweet essence of love and memory. It speaks to the human experience of longing, loss, and the inevitability of change.
Line by Line Meaning
If you just
The singer is addressing someone and implying that there is something simple the person can do.
If you just hold on to me
The singer is suggesting that physical closeness would bring them happiness.
It would make me happy
The singer believes that being held would have a positive effect on their overall emotional state.
If you just hold on to me
The singer repeats their suggestion, emphasizing its importance to them.
I won't feel so empty
The singer is currently experiencing feelings of loneliness and they believe that being held would alleviate that emptiness.
With our eyes closed tightly
The singer is describing a scene with a specific visual image.
Just as close as we can be
The singer is emphasizing the importance of physical closeness again.
Like a rainbow made just for me
The singer is comparing this moment to something spectacular and unique.
Oh, these times were precious to me
The singer is reflecting on past moments that hold great sentimental value to them.
Overwhelming happy dreams
The singer experienced much happiness in their dreams.
I'd close my eyes and make believe
The singer would pretend or imagine something to feel a certain way.
Like in summer, all the leaves
The singer creates a specific visual image to describe their experience of imagining things.
Blew and all would fall down the stream
The singer is continuing the visual metaphor and describing the leaves falling in a particular direction.
Overwhelming beautiful dreams
The singer had similarly beautiful dreams that overwhelmed them emotionally.
And I can't feel
The singer is expressing that they are currently unable to experience certain emotions.
And I can't sleep
The singer is suggesting that their emotional state is affecting their ability to rest.
And I can't hear
The singer is describing a feeling of disconnection from the world around them.
And I can't see
The singer is describing a feeling of emotional blindness.
And if I never feel again
The singer is expressing a fear of losing their ability to feel emotions completely.
And if this is truly the end
The singer is describing a feeling of finality or possible ending of a relationship.
Then you better say goodbye
The singer is implying that they would feel better if the other person were to end the relationship before they do.
But I loved you
The singer is expressing their love for the other person.
Just wanted you to know
The singer is expressing a desire to communicate something important.
I'm so sorry I never told you so
The singer is expressing regret for not previously expressing their love for the other person.
I've loved you
The singer repeats their declaration of love.
Just wanted you to know
The singer again emphasizes their desire for the other person to know their feelings.
So sorry I never told you so
The singer again expresses regret for their failure to express their feelings to the other person earlier in time.
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eddie Risdal
If you just
If you just hold on to me
It would make me happy
If you just hold on to me
I won't feel so empty
With our eyes closed tightly
Just as close as we can be
Like a rainbow made just for me
Oh, these times were precious to me
We would build these happy things
I'd close my eyes and make believe
Like in summer, all the leaves
Blew and all would fall down the stream
Over-running before the fall
And I can't feel
And I can't sleep
And I can't hear
And I can't see
And if I never feel again
And if this is truly the end
Then you better say goodbye
But I loved you
Just wanted you to know
I'm so sorry I never told you so
I've loved you
Just wanted you to know
So sorry I never told you so
Kate 93
Обожаю эту песню. Она такая пронзительная. Мне хотелось бы слушать ее, лежа в поезде и смотря в окно на пролетающий мимо пейзаж.
Eddie Risdal
If you just
If you just hold on to me
It would make me happy
If you just hold on to me
I won't feel so empty
With our eyes closed tightly
Just as close as we can be
Like a rainbow made just for me
Oh, these times were precious to me
We would build these happy things
I'd close my eyes and make believe
Like in summer, all the leaves
Blew and all would fall down the stream
Over-running before the fall
And I can't feel
And I can't sleep
And I can't hear
And I can't see
And if I never feel again
And if this is truly the end
Then you better say goodbye
But I loved you
Just wanted you to know
I'm so sorry I never told you so
I've loved you
Just wanted you to know
So sorry I never told you so
Jennifer Webb
My all time favorite Cranes song!
David McGough
An artist who matters to my past-present life lovely track
MaGu E
Is it wrong that I want this song for my funeral?
wollanooo
yes
Emmanuel Farmakis
+MaGu E If THAT were wrong, something TRULY wrong would be going on with the world!!!! Still, I wish you a long, long life with The Cranes, friend!
K Vis
Nope...my favorite song from my favorite band....this will be played at my funeral as well. :)
Agustin Vazquez gutierrez
bella, hermosa, genial
David McGough
Song speaks to my life story beautifully