Combining the melodic jangle of post-The Smiths indie pop with the lilting, trance-inducing sonic textures of late-80s dream pop and adding a slight Celtic tint, The Cranberries became one of the more successful groups to emerge from the indie scene of the early 90s. Led by vocalist Dolores O'Riordan, whose keening, powerful voice was the most distinctive element of the group's sound, the group initially made little impact in the United Kingdom.
It wasn't until the lush ballad "Linger" became an American hit in 1993 that the band also achieved mass success in the U.K. Following the success of "Linger", The Cranberries quickly became international stars, as both their 1993 debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, and its 1994 follow-up, No Need to Argue, sold millions of copies and produced a string of hit singles like "Dreams", "Zombie" and "Ode to My Family".
By the time of their third album, 1996's To the Faithful Departed, the group had added distorted guitars to its sonic palette and attempted to make more socially significant music, which resulted in a downturn in the band's commercial fortunes.
During the next few years, the band cancelled a large tour and rumours of a breakup were widespread. In 1999, they released Bury the Hatchet to mixed reviews. In 2001, the band issued Wake Up and Smell the Coffee to rave reviews. The album debuted at number 46 in the US charts.
In 2002, The Cranberries released the compilation Stars: The Best of 1992-2002, which was supported by the single "Stars".
In 2003, The Cranberries announced they were taking some time to pursue individual careers. They decided to put the next album on hold. After more than a dozen years of relentless touring and promotion, which had seen them clocking up album sales in excess of 43 million and playing to hundreds of thousands of fans around the globe, the band decided it was time for a break.
In 2007, Dolores O'Riordan released her debut solo album titled Are You Listening?. Two years later she released her second solo album, No Baggage.
On 25 August 2009, Dolores O'Riordan announced that The Cranberries will be reuniting for a North American tour to begin in mid-November 2009, to be followed by dates in Europe in early 2010. O'Riordan indicated that the band will be playing songs from her solo albums and a lot of The Cranberries classic hits as well as some new music written by the group together.
The Cranberries recorded Roses at the Metalworks Studios in Toronto (Canada) from 18 April to 15 May 2011 with producer Stephen Street, who previously collaborated with the band on first, second and fifth albums. The Cranberries worked on 15 tracks during the Roses session, although not all will be included on the album. The album is scheduled for release on 14 February, 2012.
On 26 May 2016, the Cranberries announced that they would start their next tour in Europe. The first show was held on June 3.
A new "unplugged" Cranberries album titled Something Else, featuring the band's hits along with three new songs, was released on 28 April 2017 through BMG. The album received mostly positive reviews.
On 15 January 2018, lead singer Dolores O'Riordan was found dead of drowning in a London hotel room. The Cranberries confirmed in September 2018 that they would not continue as a band, releasing their final album In the End in April 2019 and disbanding afterward.Noel Hogan stated: "the Cranberries was the four of us. We don’t want to do this without Dolores. So we’re going to leave it after this."
The Cranberries' final album In the End has been nominated for Best Rock Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. The awards take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020.
Official site: http://www.cranberries.com.
11) Yeat's Grave
The Cranberries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La-la-la-la
William Butler Yeats couldn't save
La-la-la-la
Why did you stand here?
Were you sickened in time?
But I know by now
Why did you sit here?
In the grave
In the grave
In the grave
In the grave
Why should I blame her?
That she filled my days with misery
Or that she would of late have taught to ignorant men
Most violent ways
Or hurled the little streets upon the great
Had they but courage equal to desire?
Sad that Maud Gonne couldn't stay
La-la-la-la
But she had MacBride anyway
La-la
And you sit here with me
On the isle Innisfree
And you are writing down anything
But I know by now
Why did you sit here?
Ah-ah (ah-ah)
In the grave
In the grave
In the grave
In the grave
La-la-da-da
La-la-da-da
La-la-da-da-da-da-da
La-la-da-da
La-la-da-da
La-la-da-da-da-da-da
William Butler
William Butler
William Butler
William Butler
Why should I blame her?
Had they but courage equal to desire
Had they but courage equal to desire (William Butler, William Butler)
William Butler
In The Cranberries' song Yeats' Grave, the lyrics reflect on the life and death of the famous Irish poet William Butler Yeats. The first verse begins with the lines, "Silenced by death in the grave, WB Yeats couldn't save. Why did you stand here, were you sickened in time?" Here, the lyrics suggest that Yeats, who died in 1939 and was buried in a cemetery in France, was unable to save himself from death's grip. The song questions why Yeats chose to stand in this grave, and whether it was because he was sickened or disillusioned with the world around him.
The second verse, which opens with the lines, "Why should I blame her, that she filled my days with misery," brings in references to a woman named Maud Gonne, who was a frequent subject of Yeats' poetry and an unrequited love interest. The lyrics suggest that Gonne had a negative impact on Yeats' life, perhaps by filling it with misery, and that she had also caused harm by "teaching ignorant men violent ways." The song goes on to reference Gonne's husband, Mac Bride, and notes that she could not stay with Yeats because of her commitment to Mac Bride.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase, "Why did you sit here in a grave," suggesting a sense of confusion over why Yeats chose to spend his final resting place in this particular spot. Overall, the song uses Yeats as a symbol of Ireland's complicated relationship with its history and culture, and questions whether the country is doomed to repeat its past mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
Silenced by death in the grave
WB Yeats is dead and buried in the grave, unable to speak or express himself.
WB Yeats couldn't save
Despite his fame and accomplishments as a poet, Yeats was unable to escape the inevitability of death.
Why did you stand here
The singer is addressing Yeats' gravesite, wondering why he chose to be buried in this particular location.
Were you sickened in time
The artist ponders whether Yeats was tired of living or feeling disillusioned with the world when he died.
But I know by now
The artist has come to a realization or understanding about Yeats and his life.
Why did you sit here?
The singer repeats their earlier question, perhaps hoping for an answer from Yeats' spirit or the universe.
In the GRAVE
The singer emphasizes the location and finality of Yeats' resting place.
W.B. Yeats "Second"
The artist refers to Yeats as the second coming, a reference to his belief in Yeats as a prophet-like figure.
Why should I blame her
The artist asks why they should blame a woman (Maud Gonne) for causing them (and Yeats) pain.
That she filled my days
The artist recalls how Gonne impacted their life and thoughts.
With misery or that she would of late
The singer remembers how Gonne's actions may have caused them and Yeats pain, or how her recent actions have been questionable.
Have taught to ignorant men violent ways
The artist accuses Gonne of inspiring men to act violently or irresponsibly through her actions or beliefs.
Or hurled the little street upon the greant
The singer imagines Gonne causing chaos and destruction in their community or city.
Had they but courage
The singer reflects on how things might have been different if the people affected by Gonne's actions had the bravery to stand up to her or resist her influence.
Equal to desire
The singer suggests that the desire for change or justice was present, but the courage to act on it was lacking.
Sad that Maud Gonne couldn't stay
The artist expresses regret that Gonne could not have stayed with Yeats or had a different outcome in their relationship.
But she had Mac Bride anyway
The artist notes that Gonne did have another partner (John MacBride) despite Yeats' infatuation with her.
And you sit here with me
The singer addresses Yeats' spirit at his gravesite, acknowledging his presence or influence on their thoughts.
On the isle Inistee
The singer describes the location of Yeats' gravesite as the island of Inistee in Ireland.
And your writing down everything
The artist imagines Yeats taking notes or observing everything that is happening around him, even in death.
In a grave ...
The artist repeats the emphasis on Yeats' final resting place, reminding the listener of the somber nature of death.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dolores Mary O'riordan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stuckboy1005
Awesome voice..
@leojwelch20
'When you are old' and grey and full of sleep, take down this book, and slowly dream, and dream of the soft look your eyes had once,
and of their shadows deep,
how many loved your moments of glad grace, and loved your beauty with love false or true, but one man loved the Pilgrim soul in you, and loved the sorrows of your changing face
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
murmur,a little softly, how love fled,
and paced upon the mountains overhead,
and hid his face amid a crowd of STARS. WB Yeats .RIP DOLORES O' RIORDAN
@marcosassuntron
I love you Dol you are part of me
@chessmentor63
I think I saw them live in Portland Oregon the same year. I got in line where they were selling tickets an hour before they actually went on sale and got second row seats. Went with a buddy who I think was mainly interested in her female attractiveness so after the show he apparently went up front and engaged her in a little conversation. I didn't see him do this, I stayed back and conversed with some other fans that had sat in the same general area. My buddy comes over after a few minutes and tells me I should have come up, that she actually told him she liked me! Not in that way I'm sure (though I was in my long hair and leather jacket phase at the time) but more than likely because I knew ALL the words and sang along (softly) in perfect unison. Yeah I'm not ashamed to say that I was a "Berryhead" back in the day. RIP Dolores
@brilmao2817
D-George Jempty thats so cute.
@RyanScottGraham
awesome story! thanks for sharing
@hellowingy
Na, na na na. Na, na, na...
Silenced by death in the grave,
Da da da da. William Butler Yeats couldn't save.
Da da de da. Why did you stand here,
Were you sickened in time?
But I know by now.
Why did you sit here, ah...
In the grave, in the gra-a-ave.
In the grave, in the gra-a-a-ave?
Why should I blame her,
that she filled my days with misery,
Or that she would of late have taught
To ignorant men most violent
Ways or hurled the little streets upon the great.
Had they but courage equal to desire.
Sad that Maud Gonne couldn't stay,
Da da da da, but she had Mac Bride anyway.
And you sit here with me on the Isle Inisfree,
And you're writting down ev'rything.
But I know by now.
Why did you sit here, ah...
In the grave, in the gra-a-ave.
In the grave, in the gra-a-a-ave?
La da da da; La da da da...
William Butler... [X 4]
Why should I blame her,
Had they the courage equal to desire.
William Butler... [X 3]
@clairemoon3722
Goodbye Dolores. We will miss you…until “our enemy, death, is no more” 1 Corinthians 15:26, Revelation21:3,4. We will see you again when you wake up right here on our beautiful planet the way you always imagined.. NO WAR anywhere, NO sadness, NO pain, NO suffering of any kind...It's true. Isaiah 46:9, Psalms 37:9-29, Isaiah 33:24- "The meek shall inherit the Earth" lovely Dolores... you will see it. Matthew 5:5 Prayers to the family, the band, and friends...