Their first album, Broadcast, released in 1986, was the first U.S. number one album for Richard Branson's Virgin Records. It included "(I Just) Died in Your Arms", their most popular single, which reached number one in the U.S., and number four in the UK; the album also yielded an additional U.S. top-ten hit with "I've Been in Love Before". The band received a Grammy nomination in 1987, for "Best New Artist".
After the band broke up in 1993, guitarist Kevin MacMichael joined forces with Robert Plant, and played on his critically acclaimed Fate of Nations album. MacMichael died of lung cancer on New Year's Eve 2002, at his home in Nova Scotia, at the age of 51.
The band was reformed in 2006 by Nick Van Eede, with a completely new line-up. They have released one album, Grinning Souls, in February 2006 on the Hypertension record label. The new band toured Germany early the same year and are currently planning tours in the UK and Denmark.
The Scattering
Cutting Crew Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That they were wrong to go
Fires don't burn at home, like they
Used to burn, those nights
Grew so long
The scattering
(All the children say)
(It's taken them away)
No seeds to fall
(All the children say)
No sons to blame
As one by one they left home
Tired old men
Spin tales of when
A man could work
And hold his head up high
Ghosts roam this town
With pockets full of rye they'd all fall down
But soon their jars all ran dry
The scattering
(All the children say)
Will come again
(It's taken them away)
No seeds to fall
(All the children say)
No sons to blame
As one by one they left home
The scattering
(All the children say)
Has come again
(It's taken them away)
No seeds to fall
(All the children say)
Like better days
The scattering
(All the children say)
Has come again
(It's taken them away)
But if skies could fall
(All the children say)
With harvest rain
Then one by one
They'll come home
The lyrics to Cutting Crew's song "The Scattering" describe the nostalgia that many people feel towards their childhood homes and the communities they grew up in. The first verse speaks to the idea that as boys and girls become adults, they realize that leaving their homes behind was a mistake. The image of fires burning at home is a metaphor for the warmth and comfort of being surrounded by family and friends. The singer suggests that the nights of their youth were so long because they were filled with happy memories.
The chorus of the song talks about the scattering of the community - how people have left for various reasons and there are no more seeds (children) to continue the legacy of the town. The second verse introduces the perspective of the "tired old men" who reminisce about the good old days when a man could work hard and be proud of his accomplishments. However, now the town is filled with ghosts and their jars (a symbol of abundance) have all run dry. The final chorus brings the song full circle - the scattering has already taken place and there are no more seeds to plant. However, the singer suggests that if the skies (representing hope and prosperity) could fall, maybe one by one they could all come back home.
Overall, "The Scattering" is a reflective and melancholic song that speaks to the common human experience of longing for a simpler time and the warmth of home. The lyrics are evocative and the melody is haunting, making it a memorable contribution to Cutting Crew's body of work.
Line by Line Meaning
Boys and girls will see in time
Even young people will eventually learn that they have made mistakes
That they were wrong to go
They will realize that leaving home wasn't the best decision
Fires don't burn at home, like they
The cozy and warm atmosphere of home is irreplaceable
Used to burn, those nights
The night long conversations and bonding that used to occur at home have become infrequent
The scattering
The diaspora of the younger generations away from home
(All the children say)
A common feeling among the younger generation
Will come again
The trend of young people leaving their homes will continue
(It's taken them away)
The parents can't help feeling powerless and left behind
No seeds to fall
There are no children left to carry on the family legacy
No sons to blame
The parents can't blame their son for leaving home, because all of their children have left
As one by one they left home
The children left home one-by-one, making the parents feel more and more alone
Tired old men
The elder generation that remained at home
Spin tales of when
They tell stories of the past when things were different
A man could work
Their generation had more job opportunities
And hold his head up high
There was pride in their ability to work and provide for their families
Ghosts roam this town
The town is haunted by the memories of those who have left
With pockets full of rye they'd all fall down
The people who left (figuratively) had pockets full of money, but nobody was there to catch them when they fell
But soon their jars all ran dry
Their money eventually ran out and they started struggling
Like better days
The younger generation longs for the better times of the past
Has come again
The trend of young people leaving home has reversed
But if skies could fall
If there was some kind of disaster or need, such as a bad harvest or famine
With harvest rain
Rain that would help harvest crops grow and provide for the community
Then one by one
The children who left home would return home, one-by-one
They'll come home
The younger generation will eventually return home, bringing new life to the community
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EEDE, MACMICHAEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Taillefer
There is a beauty in this that words cannot describe. The message, the voice tones and harmonies, the colors, the scenes, the sweet-sour feel, the celtic sound, the rythm, the soft hiatus, the musicianship... A gem of hope when times are rough. Thanks Cutting Crew.
ulysses ytac
RIP Kevin ..one of the best Guitarist of the 80s
HK Chung
RIP? really?
oh my. . . . .
Sergio Sabino Music
Beautiful song!!! Cutting Crew is part of my childhood/adolescence and it's still so conforting listening to their music.
Arsh Khaira
Thank you for keeping my memories fresh. This song was very important to my childhood - God Bless the writers.
Erika Vázquez
Es una belleza de canción 😍😍🇲🇽
Wok's Random Channel
I tried to like this album, but could never get into it. Taking another listen 25 years later, I dig it. I guess music tastes change over time.
progtoeternity
Always loved the celtic feel in this beautiful track !
Celso Finatelli
Every frame is amazing!!Very beautiful!
Erika Vazquez
Es una de las tantas canciones que te dicen musicalmente que a pesar de todo siempre vendrán tiempos mejores 😍