music sharing: The Cranberries
22 of my five-star favorite songs on the 22nd of each month ;-) A five-star song is one that has strong melodic pull as well as significant lyrical meaning to me (if there are lyrics) -- all of these are very important to me. In sharing them I'm sharing some of my soul... I'm trusting you to listen and sense it. ♥
In this post: The Cranberries. They're my longest-lived musical love; eleven years now I have loved their music (though I never got the chance to see them in concert). I generally prefer more complex lyrics, but the richness of the music and the way Dolores uses zir voice as an instrument (in wordless sound as well as lyrics) more than balances the simpler lyrics. I chose samples from five albums but this is just an overview, as there are very few of their songs that I don't sing along with and feel through-and-through. I'll add individual comments on each album.
Belenen's favorites -- March 2009 (click pic to download a zip of all songs)
(click titles to download individual songs)
from "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?"
This was my first Cranberries album and I must have listened to it more than any other album; for years I listened to it almost every night. I felt a strong spiritual connection with it, something I couldn't really explain and still don't really understand. It's not exactly the sound, it's not exactly the lyrics, but something about this collection of songs is a pathway to truth for me. I used it as a way of connecting with God/dess; I'd put it on random and listen, and some line of a song would spark a thought that I felt as a message from the divine. It was all the more amazing to me because the lyrics ARE so simple -- I wouldn't think that I could get so many different meanings, so much understanding, from them, but I did. And it still is that pathway for me, though I don't use it often now.
---
I Still Do
I'm not ready for this,
Though I thought I would be.
I can't see the future,
Though I thought I could see.
I don't want to leave you,
Even though I have to.
I don't want to love you.
Oh, I still do.
Need some time to find myself.
I wanna live within.
Can I go my own way?
Can I pray my own way?
I don't want to leave you.
Oh, I need you.
-
Dreams
Oh, my life is changing everyday,
In every possible way.
And oh, my dreams, it's never quite as it seems
I know I've felt like this before, but now I'm feeling it even more,
Because it came from you.
And then I open up and see the person falling here is me,
A different way to be.
And now I tell you openly, you have my heart so don't hurt me.
You're what I couldn't find.
A totally amazing mind, so understanding and so kind;
You're everything to me.
-
Pretty
You're so pretty the way you are.
And you had no reason,
To be so insolent to me.
La, la, you got to say it if you want to,
But you won't change me.
-
Not Sorry
I'm not sorry if I do insult you.
I'm sad, not sorry, 'bout the way that things went,
And you'll be happy and I'll be forsakin' thee.
I swore I'd never feel like this again,
But you're so selfish, you don't see
What you're doing to me,
I keep on looking through the window again.
You told me lies, and I sighed, and I sighed, and I sighed.
'Cause you lied, lied, and I cried, yes I cried, yes, I cry, I cry, I try again.
-
I Will Always
So be whatever you want to be,
And go wherever you need to go.
And when it all seems like a mistake,
Take whatever you need to take,
And leave the rest for my own sake.
I will always,
Go beside you,
You will always,
Understand.
-
Put Me Down
Let me take you by the hand,
Away from here to another land.
Oh, this land in which we live,
Where people love and are meant to forgive.
And you always put me wrong,
'Cause you're always putting me down.
I can't take this anymore.
I decided to leave,
Walked out through the door.
Oh, and why do you think I go?
Because you know it can never be so.
-
from "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee"
This album has a sweetness and passion for freedom to it; it stirs me to celebrate life and to change my world. Also, I read that Dolores struggled with anorexia for a while, and the title track "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee" speaks of that to me. Even though I've never had anorexia, I understand why one might deny oneself nourishment in order to meet the impossible demands of the world or in order to control one's own world (not to say that those are the only two reasons), and it's something that touches me deeply. I feel very grateful to The Cranberries for speaking on things like world hunger and self-starvation (even if the title track isn't actually about that). And of course, lyrics that speak of faith and openness make my spirit sing.
---
Analyse
Breathe the air out there
We are free, we can be wide open
For you open my eyes
To the beauty I see
We will pray, we will stay
Wide open
Breathe the air out there
Fantasize, fantasize
We are open
For you open my eyes
To the beauty I see
We will pray, we will stay
Together
-
Time Is Ticking Out
We'd better think about the things we say
We'd better think about the games we play
The world went round, around and round
We'd better think about the consequences
We'd better think about the global census
The time went down, the time went down
What about Chernobyl?
What about radiation?
We don't know, we don't know
What about deprivation?
Gluttony, the human nation?
We don't know, we don't know
For me love is all, for me love is all
Time is ticking out
What about our children then?
Is there nothing left for them?
We don't know, we don't know
For me love is all, for me love is all
Ahh la la la the oxygen, ahh la la la the oxygen
Time is ticking out
-
This Is the Day
the wind might change
I will still remain
I will always be there for you
These thoughts, they circle in my mind
This is the day
The demons I can't leave behind
This is the day
Don't be insecure
I'll be at your door
I will always be there for you
Faith will save you
Faith will save you
Faith will save you
Stay! Stay!
Put forth thy grace into my mind
This is the day
Put forth thy grace thou art divine
This is the day
-
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
I, I went to hell
I might as well
Learn by my mistakes
I at twenty-four
Was insecure
Do whatever it takes
Come on and
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up
It's time, smell the coffee, the coffee
She's only got one reason to live
This is your life
She's only got one message to give
Give it tonight
She's so gorgeous
I'll do anything
She's so gorgeous
I'll lose everything, everyday
-
I Really Hope
I've been down this road before
Now I'm coming back for more ...
I was born to be with you
I really hope you'll always be
So in love with me
I really hope we'll always stay
So attached this way
So beware of the pitfall:
"We don't have to change at all"
And our light will not burn out
It's what freedom's all about
Into the night we go to sleep
You and I were meant for keeps
Into the night we go to play
You and I
I really hope that you'll always be here
I really hope that you'll always be near
-
from "No Need to Argue"
This album is sorrowful but passionate. The song "Empty" helped me so much in the darkest time of my life, giving me a way to voice my feelings. Most sad songs seem to be about someone else, or just not expressive of the emptiness and lack of self -- "Empty," to me, expresses exactly what it feels like to be walking through the devastated wilderness of your self when you are trying to heal from sexual abuse. And the way Dolores sings it -- with a wordless call that reminds me of a mournful howl -- says what cannot be said in words.
---
Zombie
Another head hangs lowly,
Child is slowly taken.
And the violence caused such silence,
Who are we mistaken?
But you see, it's not me, it's not my family.
In your head, in your head they are fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are crying...
In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey. What's in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Another mother's breakin'
Heart is taking over.
When the violence causes silence,
We must be mistaken.
It's the same old theme since nineteen-sixteen.
In your head, in your head they're still fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are dying...
-
Empty
Something has left my life,
And I don't know where it went to
Somebody caused me strife,
And it's not what I was seeking.
Didn't you see me, didn't you hear me?
Didn't you see me standing there?
Why did you turn out the lights?
Did you know that I was sleeping?
Say a prayer for me,
Help me to feel the strength, I did.
My identity, has it been taken?
Is my heart breakin'?
All my plans fell though my hands,
They fell though my hands on me.
All my dreams it suddenly seems,
It suddenly seems,
Empty...
Empty...
-
Dreaming My Dreams
All the things you said to me today,
Change my perspective in every way.
These things come to mean so much to me,
Into my faith, you and your baby.
It's out there. It's out there.
It's out there. If you want me I'll be here.
I'll be dreaming my dreams with you.
And there's no other place,
That I'd lay down my face.
-
Yeat's 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.
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
In the grave, in the grave?
Had they but courage equal to desire.
-
Daffodil Lament
Holding on, that's what I do since I met you.
And it won't be long. Would you notice if I left you?
And it's fine for some 'cause you're not the one
I have decided to leave you forever.
I have decided to start things from here.
Thunder and lightning won't change
What I'm feeling, and the daffodils look lovely today
Ooh, in your eyes I can see the disguise.
Has anyone seen lightning?
Has anyone looked lovely?
And the daffodils look lovely today
-
from "Bury the Hatchet"
This was the last Cranberries album that I got -- I put it off until just a month ago because I wanted to have another album to look forward to. I'm just getting acquianted with it, but already there are songs which have deep meaning to me. ♥
---
You and Me
You revealed a world to me and I would never be
Dwelling in such happiness, your gift of purity
Aahh, you and me it will always be
You and me Forever be,
Eternally it will always be you and me
I don't pay attention to the ones who never cared
Find your own direction 'cos there's sweetness in the air
You will be the world to me and I will always be
Dwelling in this happiness, your gift of purity
It will always be You and me
Forever be, Eternally
-
Just My Imagination
There was a time I used to pray
I have always kept my faith in love
It's the greatest thing from the [one] above
The game I used to play
I've always put my cards upon the table
Let it never be said that I'd be unstable
We'll always be this free
We will be living for the love we have
Living not for reality
It's not my imagination
-
What's On My Mind***** (this one is not in the zip!)
Baby I would do anything for you
Nobody's ever treated me quite like you do
I was wrong all along
There could be somebody like thee
Here we are finally
I've found my
I've found my
Maybe it'll be quite sometime
I love you forever and we will be waiting in time
I'm wasting no more time
I'm wasting no more time
I'm always gonna tell you what's on my mind
-
Fee Fi Fo
Fee fi fo she smells his body
She smells his body
And it makes her sick to her mind
He has got so much to answer for
To answer for, To ruin a child's mind
How could you touch something
So innocent and pure
Obscure
How could you get satisfaction
From the body of a child
You're vile, sick
He was sitting in her bedroom
In her bedroom
And now what should she do
She's got so much insecurity
And his impurity
It was a gathering gloom
It's true what people say
God protects the ones who help themselves
In their own way
I often wonder to myself:
Who protects the ones who can't protect themselves?
-
from "To the Faithful Departed"
This album is my least favorite -- most of the songs don't fit me, so though I can enjoy them, they don't have deep meaning to me. These two songs do:
---
Salvation
Inject your soul with liberty,
It's free, it's free.
To all the kids with heroin eyes,
Don't do it, don't do it.
Because it's not not what it seems,
No no it's not not what it seems.
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free.
-
Free to Decide
I'll live as I choose,
Or I will not live at all.
So return to where you come from,
Return to where you dwell,
Because harassment's not my forte,
But you do it very well.
I'm free to decide, I'm free to decide,
And I'm not so suicidal after all.
So to hell with what you're thinking,
And to hell with your narrow mind,
You're so distracted from the real thing,
You should leave your life behind.
-