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
Watersong
Cranes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
love is in my arms
love along to stand the hard
in the thought that ...
love is in my arms
herein
loving in my arms
when you thought that love above
the mysteries
in the thought we live apart
love was in my arms
... one was all that leaves
he ... it falls
in your ...
love
is like a game
and all my ...
and these sails change to winter
fall off again
these tears
brushing up memories
how I long to dream
my sweet
like the spring
like ...
like a ...
that tomorrow brings
that tomorrow brings
that tomorrow brings
that tomorrow brings
here
The lyrics of Cranes's song "Watersong" seem to revolve around the themes of love, memories, and longing. The opening lines suggest that the singer is holding someone they love in their arms and finding strength in that love despite the difficulties they may face ("love along to stand the hard"). The repetition of "love is in my arms" emphasizes the importance of this love in the singer's life.
The second verse mentions the idea of distance ("we could go from far"), suggesting that the couple may be separated physically but still connected emotionally. The lines "the mysteries/in the thought we live apart" add a touch of melancholy to the song, hinting that the separation may be difficult for the singer to bear. The lines "when you thought that love above" are somewhat unclear in their meaning, but they may suggest a feeling of hope or optimism despite the challenges faced by the couple.
The final stanza brings up images of change and transition ("these sails change to winter/fall off again") and hints at sadness and nostalgia ("these tears/brushing up memories/how I long to dream/my sweet"). The repeated line "that tomorrow brings" suggests a sense of hope for the future despite the difficulties of the present.
Line by Line Meaning
here
This is the present moment where the singer is experiencing love.
love is in my arms
The singer is currently holding someone whom they love deeply.
love along to stand the hard
Love helps the singer endure hardships and difficult times.
in the thought that ...
The artist is reflecting on a particular thought but does not express it explicitly.
herein
The artist is describing a perpetual state of love that exists within them.
loving in my arms
The singer is embracing someone they love and cherish.
we could go from far to ...
Together, the singer and their beloved could go to great distances and overcome challenges.
when you thought that love above
When the artist and their beloved rise above all fears and doubts, love prevails.
the mysteries
The unknown aspects of life and love that the artist ponders.
in the thought we live apart
The artist is reflecting on the feeling of longing when they and their beloved are apart from each other.
love was in my arms
The singer is recalling a memory of a time when their beloved was in their embrace.
... one was all that leaves
Perhaps a reference to the notion that people only have one true love in their lifetime.
he ... it falls
Unclear without more context, may refer to a falling out or disappointment in love.
in your ...
Incomplete thought that does not provide enough context to infer a clear meaning.
love
A complex emotion that can feel like a game but ultimately has lasting impacts on the singer's life.
is like a game
The experience of love can feel like playing a game with various strategies and outcomes.
and all my ...
The artist's intentions and efforts in love are encompassed in their actions and words.
and these sails change to winter
Perhaps a metaphor for the shifting seasons of love and how it can be challenging to navigate through them.
fall off again
The singer's previous efforts in love may come to nothing, leaving them heartbroken once more.
these tears
The artist is overcome with emotion and sadness.
brushing up memories
Reflecting on past experiences and moments shared with a beloved.
how I long to dream
The artist desires to dream about a romantic future with their beloved.
my sweet
Endearing nickname for their beloved.
like the spring
Love is compared to the season of spring, where new growth and warmth can be felt.
like ...
Unclear continuation of the previous line without enough context.
like a ...
Continuation of the previous line without enough context.
that tomorrow brings
Hopeful expectation for a bright future with their beloved.
that tomorrow brings
Repetition of the previous line for emphasis on the artist's optimistic outlook.
that tomorrow brings
Repetition of the previous line again for further emphasis.
Contributed by Chase W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@AnUnhingedMind
This song sounds like the ghost of a child singing in the halls of an old Victorian house.
@droctober33
This song always takes me back to the winter of 1991. Catching the tube every day to college and playing this. There was always a patchy of icy scrubland that would always catch my attention. Hemmed in by the tube line on one side, and some fenced off industrial area on the other - there was something haunted about it. There was nothing there really, a few scraggly bushes, a pylon - there seemed to be a path running through it, though I couldn't ever imagine anyone walking there. It was the most forlorn place I hyad ever seen in those quick few seconds the tube passed by. Anyhow this song always reminds me of the place. When I go back along that tube line again, I always look out for that place, but I've never been able to find it again.
@ozricness
How could you even hear it on the tube? 😄
@Snooooooooooooopy0
Their best album. Love you Cranes
@arlinejernigan
Agreed!
@tamaraeggert8152
They played before The Cure on Concert 1992! I love them!
@NiranjanSpirit
Check out the Robert Smith remix of their 7" 'Jewel'
@ghostemane3209
thank you spotify weekly discover this is a gem in the trash
@maryJ81B
Me too
@juancoopman1948
This song is brilliant