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 1989โ-โ1990" which you can get on their Bandcamp site (see Linktree below) both digitally and on CD/Vinyl.
Current members
Alison Shaw โ vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar (1985โ1997, 2000โpresent)
Jim Shaw โ guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums (1985โ1997, 2000โpresent)
Mark Francombe โ guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, spanner (1989โ1997, 2022-present)
Matt Cope โ guitar (1989โ1997, 2022-present)
Former members:
Kevin Dunford โ lead guitar (1988โ1989)
Paul Smith โ guitar, keyboards (1995โ1997, 2000โ2012)
Manu Ross โ drums (1996โ1997)
Ben Baxter โ bass guitar (2000โ2012)
Jon Callender โ drums (2000โ2007)
Jon Mattock โ drums (2008โ2012)
Cranes official Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cranesofficial
Sunrise
Cranes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see a moment of danger
A life gets messed up
The more I see, the more it gets stranger
Oh my Lord
Hear us now
Time is short
Fall by the wayside
See people struggling over
Please mend our broken hearts
And help us when we get older
Please help to guide us
To see the beauty that lives inside us
Its all around us
I know that it will always surround us
Oh my Lord
Hear us now
Time goes on
Plese heal us now
I see the sunrise
New light is opening my eyes
Please make it alright
And ease the suffering of night
And in the daytime
Let there be happiness, joy and sunlight
I'll look for a sign
And pray from morning, noon until its night
Oh my Lord
Hear us now
Time is short
Don't let me down
Oh my Lord
Hear us now
Time goes on
Don't let me down
The song "Sunrise" by Cranes puts forward a plea to the higher power to intervene and heal the world. The lyrics portray the singer as someone who is witnessing the world and its inhabitants suffer in pain and misery, and seeking redemption from the divine force. The lyrics suggest that there is something inherently wrong with the world, and that the recent events have made the situation worse. The singer acknowledges the dangers that the world presents, but also pleads for a way out of this labyrinth of misery.
The singer seems to be in a state of despair and uncertainty, and looks for guidance and support from the divine. There is a sense of urgency in the lyrics, as if the singer is worried about the passage of time and the worsening of the situation. The metaphorical "Sunrise" is a symbol of hope and optimism, and the singer hopes that the new light will bring happiness, joy, and positive change. The lyrics suggest that if the divine force does not intervene, then the singer and the people of the world will be let down.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sunrise" depict a world that is in a state of chaos, and the singer seeks help and redemption. However, the song does not come across as hopeless, but instead as a plea for positive change, and offers hope for a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the sunrise
I am experiencing a new beginning and hope for a better future
I see a moment of danger
I am aware of the potential risks and threats in life
A life gets messed up
Lives can be complicated and challenging, leading to unfavorable outcomes
The more I see, the more it gets stranger
The more I observe and experience, the more confusing and unusual life can seem
Oh my Lord
An expression of a plea to a higher power for help and guidance
Hear us now
A request for the higher power to listen and respond to our needs
Time is short
A reminder that life can be fleeting and we must make the most of it
Don't let me down
An appeal to the higher power not to disappoint or abandon us
Fall by the wayside
To fail or be left behind in life
See people struggling over
Observing the challenges and hardships that others face
Please mend our broken hearts
A request for healing and restoration of emotional pain
And help us when we get older
A plea for support and assistance in the later stages of life
Please help to guide us
A request for guidance and direction in life
To see the beauty that lives inside us
To recognize and appreciate the unique qualities and strengths of ourselves and others
Its all around us
There is beauty and goodness in the world if we open ourselves to it
I know that it will always surround us
I believe that positivity and hope will always be present, even in difficult times
New light is opening my eyes
A new perspective or understanding is emerging
Please make it alright
A request for things to be made better and problems to be resolved
And ease the suffering of night
To relieve the pain and difficulty that we experience, especially in dark or difficult times
And in the daytime
During the brighter and more hopeful times
Let there be happiness, joy and sunlight
A desire for positivity, contentment and warmth in life
I'll look for a sign
I will search for indicators or evidence of hope and positivity
And pray from morning, noon until its night
A commitment to seek and request guidance and support from a higher power throughout the day
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kate 93
This group is so underrated ๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ค
Pisces West
Oh my Lord, Here is Love...
Time is short...don't let me down...๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ค
Gods, I love this woman.
Alison, you are Loved...unbelievably so...
David McGough
Adore
psycheciety
fragile, soft, eased, ... cranes psy
scumbaguk
lovely
Mangle Dorthy
Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. : )
Joshua Reavis
What unremarkable pile of dog doodie would dislike this?