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.
Desperate Andy
The Cranberries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's where he likes to be
He like to wear the ball
and the chain on his neck
A false sense of security
And when he goes he goes with a smile,
And when he goes he goes with a smile,
And when he goes he goes with a smile
Desperate Andy a-a-a-a
Re la la la la la la
Desperate Andy a-a-a-a
Re la la la la la la la la
The world is your oyster now
You can do as you want to do
The world is your oyster now
So go out and get high
and get whatever you want to
Ma-na-na, Ma-na-na,
ma-na-na, ma-na-na
Ma-na-na, ma-na-na,
ma-na-na, ma-na-na
He used to be a closet biker they say
A 1957 BSA
He used to collect writing paper
They wonder wonder wonder
wonder wonder of
Desperate Andy a-a-a-a
Re la la la la la la
Isn't it dandy a-a-a-a
Ra la la la la
Desperate Andy a-a-a-a
Re la la la la la la la la
The world is your oyster now
You can do as you want to do
The world is your oyster now
So go out and get high
and get whatever you want to
The world is your oyster now
You can do as you want to do
The world is your oyster now
So go out and get laid
and get whatever you want to
The world is your oyster
The world is yours
It's yours, it's yours,
it's yours, it's yours
It's yours, it's yours,
it's yours, it's yours
Gimme the chastity, gimme the sanctity,
Gimme the wit, o-oh x5
The Cranberries' "Desperate Andy" is a song that is open to interpretation, as is the case with many of the band's songs. One interpretation is that it's about a man named Andy who has a false sense of security in his relationship, which he clings to and is desperate not to lose. The lyrics "He always holds onto his girlfriend, that's where he likes to be" suggest that he's afraid of being alone and relies on his partner for comfort. The line, "He likes to wear the ball and chain on his neck, a false sense of security," implies that he's tied to his relationship but believes he's safe and secure there.
The chorus of the song features the repeated phrase "Desperate Andy," which may refer to the character's desperation in being tethered to his relationship. The line "He used to be a closet biker they say, a 1957 BSA" could suggest that Andy is suppressing a wilder or more adventurous side of himself that he once indulged in, as represented by his former love of motorbikes. The song's title may also be a play on words, as it sounds like "desperate and" - perhaps a nod to Andy's feelings of desperation in his relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
He always holds on to his girlfriend
He prefers to be with his romantic partner and doesn't like being alone
That's where he likes to be
Being with his girlfriend gives him a sense of comfort and familiarity
He like to wear the ball
and the chain on his neck
He enjoys having a sense of control and the reassurance that comes with possession
A false sense of security
His attachment to material possessions and his girlfriend give him a fleeting sense of safety
And when he goes he goes with a smile,
Despite his inner anxieties, he puts on a facade of happiness when he's around others
Desperate Andy a-a-a-a
The singer feels sorry for Andy's inability to truly connect with others and find happiness
The world is your oyster now
Andy has the freedom to do whatever he wants in life
You can do as you want to do
He can make his own choices
So go out and get high and get whatever you want to
The artist is urging Andy to indulge in life's pleasures and find what makes him truly happy
He used to be a closet biker they say
Andy used to have interests that he kept hidden from others
A 1957 BSA
A type of British motorcycle that Andy used to own or enjoy riding
He used to collect writing paper
Andy had a hobby of collecting paper for writing letters or notes
They wonder wonder wonder
wonder wonder of
Others are curious about Andy's past and the things he used to enjoy
Isn't it dandy a-a-a-a
The singer is commenting sarcastically on how Andy's life seems perfect on the surface
Ra la la la la
A nonsensical phrase used for musical effect
So go out and get laid and get whatever you want to
The artist is telling Andy to pursue romantic relationships and physical pleasure
The world is your oyster
Andy has endless opportunities available to him
It's yours, it's yours,
it's yours, it's yours
The world belongs to Andy, and he has the power to shape his own life
Gimme the chastity, gimme the sanctity,
Gimme the wit, o-oh x5
The singer is pleading for virtues that she believes will bring true happiness, unlike Andy's superficial pursuits
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NOEL ANTHONY HOGAN, DOLORES MARY O'RIORDAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind