Why?
The_Cranberries Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Somewhere in between here and heaven
Somewhere in between where and why
Somewhere in another dimension
I can hear you asking me why

Why?
Why?
Tell me, can you hear me? I'm calling
Tell me you can hear me, don't cry
Tell me that you're not feeling lonely
Somewhere in between where and why

I will wait for you
Will you wait for me?
I will wait for you
Will you wait for me?

Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me

Somewhere at the crossroads of nowhere
Somewhere at the crossroads of why
Somewhere in another dimension
I can hear you asking me why

Why?
Why?

Will you wait for me?
I will wait for you
Will you wait for me?
I will wait for you

Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me

Somewhere in between here and Heaven
Somewhere in between where and why
Somewhere in another dimension
I can hear you asking me why

Ooh, ah
Ooh, ah




Ooh, ah
Ooh, ah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Cranberries' "Why?" are open to interpretation, but they seem to depict a conversation between two people, one of whom is no longer physically present. The singer imagines a world beyond our own, where she can still hear the other person asking "why?" Perhaps the person they are mourning died in perplexity, and their question was never answered. The singer is still grappling with the desperate need for answers, especially when it comes to understanding the unknown realm beyond life.


Throughout the song, the singer pleads for communication and connection. She asks if the other person can hear her calling out, and she wants reassurance that they are not feeling lonely. Although they are no longer physically present, she will wait for them to return. This seems to speak to a longing for an eventual reunion, either in the afterlife or some other dimension.


Line by Line Meaning

Somewhere in between here and heaven
In a place where the boundary between earth and heaven is blurred


Somewhere in between where and why
In a state of confusion about the purpose and direction of life


Somewhere in another dimension
In a parallel reality beyond our own


I can hear you asking me why
I sense your questioning and uncertainty about life


Why?
A rhetorical question that reflects the general feeling of confusion and pain


Tell me, can you hear me? I'm calling
An appeal for connection and communication with someone who might be experiencing similar feelings


Tell me you can hear me, don't cry
A plea for reassurance that the other person has not succumbed to despair


Tell me that you're not feeling lonely
A desire for affirmation that one is not alone in the struggle to find meaning in life


I will wait for you
An expression of hope and persistence in the face of uncertainty and pain


Will you wait for me?
A plea for mutual support and companionship in the journey of life


Somewhere at the crossroads of nowhere
At a place of indecision and confusion


Somewhere at the crossroads of why
At a point where the question of purpose and meaning arises


Ooh, ah
An expression of emotional pain, despair and longing




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dolores Mary O'Riordan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Aiman Akmal

There should be a movie about the journey of The Cranberries.. Rest in Peace, Dolores. Your voice heal the world. Thank you for your music.

Brian

It's called Dreams, already being worked on

FamilyHistoriandude

Good luck finding someone to play her.

Noor Imelda Elle

Yes u are exactly right. I really miss her very much. Gone too soon! Wuah! 😭

Zoned2Appreciate

Beautiful soul, beautiful voice, and a mind that speaks on behalf of the world. My heart aches when I hear her voice because she is truly missed.

Haziq Azlee

trueee, a movie about their journey cam movie queen tu

doctor time tv

all I had to hear was the first bars of music and the first vocals of why and I instantly loved it. Thank you so much Noel and the rest of the cranberries for honoring us with such a great album and keeping the memory of my favorite female vocalist alive. the cranberries music feels so real to me every song, and it is as if you guys are friends we have all known for a long time. all the best, Eric Miller, fan.

Debbie Rowe

The Gregorian Chant of Ireland... I hear in almost all in Song...R.I.P. Dolores 🌻

Antony Danby

Artists like Dolores only come along once in a persons lifetime. Dolores was the beautiful singer with the amazing voice that came along in my lifetime. I feel eternally grateful I heard that voice... i just wished you had stayed longer. Rest with the angels Dolores !

Aaron Husar

For my grandparents generation I consider that person (in the acting profession) to be James Dean if there has to be only one person. A singer who fits your description would be Buddy Holly and for my parents generation there was Karen Carpenter (for whom Dolores covered the song Close to you). I know there are others I could name but I'm trying to keep it at one.

More Comments

More Versions