“I tried to drink it away
I tried to put one in the air
I tried to dance it away
I tried to change it with my hair
I ran my credit card bill up
Thought a new dress would make it better
I tried to work it away
But that just made me even sadder”
Every now and then an artist comes along with a song that expresses something in a way most of us would never be able to articulate and THAT is what makes music so powerful. With Cranes in the Sky Solange tackles depression, a tricky subject matter to handle musically and one many big names avoid. But Solange does not shy away from discussing her mental health with a clear message that no matter what do you, how you do it or what you have, sometimes your view of a clear sky is blocked. This beautifully sung, honest message laced over an impeccably produced track won Solange a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance.
A small bit of trivia: The video edit of this song features a few extra bars where Solange sings a harmonised version of the line “well it’s like cranes in the sky”. Hit the 3.30 mark to hear this small addition that does not feature on the album version.
