She refers to running away and going through various states to find herself again. Thought if I was alone then maybe I could recover’ Nobody likes to admit to being in pain, whether mentally or due to relationships, so we hide it in masks of drinks, sex, work etc. The last two verses, before the repeated refrain and chorus to the songs end, are what denounce the notion that this song is about race and almost appear to be about love and/or dealing with depression.

My favourite part is the chorus where her voice beautifully and uniquely elevates with the pain she’s trying to run away from, referring to cranes as the almost perpetual ugliness in life.

The repetitive ‘Away’ in the refrain joined by backup singers is representative of an attempt to push all negative emotions away and guide oneself into better mental and spiritual space. The first three verses are almost like vices and virtues put to use for mere aids in unspoken problems. Thought a new dress would make it better’īy the third verse, common pleasures are used as a distraction. She further attempts to alleviate the pain through materialistic items, expecting her mental problems to disappear. In this first verse and the second one, Solange sings of her ways of coping by drinking and pretending her problems don’t exist, but recklessly. She released the music video soon after the album, shot in more than 4 locations, and various black women in bold fashion choices, and dancing in mellow and contemporary moves and embracing each other. “Cranes in the Sky” had, according to, been 8 years in the making, which Solange successfully completed with the accompaniment of drums, strings, and bass. When in fact it’s more in touch with dealing with what we witness daily in the media and Solange gave her unique voice to the pain that she’s not alone in feeling.

But you wouldn’t be able to tell so with this particular tune I almost assumed it was about getting over a lost love. In general, the entire album expresses the pain felt towards the inhumane experiences of black people in America, specifically the experiences of black women. Solange Knowles croons of such times in the peacefully funky and upbeat tune of “Cranes in the Sky” Never having listened to Solange Knowles before, I didn’t know what to expect when I acquired her recently-released album “A Seat at the Table”, except that she had a funky and soulful musical side. In moments of pain and sadness, we always try to find ways to cope, ways to help get ourselves through what we don’t always feel like dealing with. Sometimes I don’t wanna feel those metal clouds’

Cranes in the sky genius