The Cranberries

Released: October 22, 2001

Songwriter: Mac Davis

Producer: Stephen Street

As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child
Is born in the ghetto

And his mama cries...

'Cause if there's one thing
That she don't need
It's another hungry mouth
To feed in the ghetto

So people, won't you understand
Child needs helping hand
Or he'll grow to be
An angry young man some day
And take a look at you and me
Are we too blind to see
Do we simply turn our heads
And look the other way
Well the world turns

And a poor little boy
With a runny nose
Plays in the street
When the cold wind
Blows in the ghetto

And his hunger burns...

So he starts to roam
The streets at night
And he learns how to steal
And he learns how to fight
In the ghetto

Then one night in desperation
A young man breaks away
He finds a gun and he steals a car
And tries to run but he doesn't get far...
And his mama cries

As a crowd gathers 'round
An angry young man
Face down on the street
With a gun in his hand
In the ghetto

And as the young man dies...

On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto

In the ghetto

In the ghetto

[ Mac Davis ]

The Cranberries were an Irish band who found major international success throughout the 1990s as a part of the alternative rock movement. The group’s lineup included Dolores O'Riordan (singer and songwriter), Noel Hogan (guitarist and songwriter), Mike Hogan (bassist) and Fergal Lawler (drummer). Originally formed in 1989 under the name The Cranberry Saw Us, the band released an independent EP in 1991 that caught the attention of the industry. SPIN Magazine described the band’s sound as “dreamy swirl pop, midway between The Smiths and the Cocteau Twins cradling the will-o’-the-wispy vocals of Dolores O’Riordan.”

In 1992, the band began recording their first album for Island Records with Stephen Street, a producer best known for working with The Smiths. Their debut, Everybody Else is Doing It So Why Can’t We?, was initially ignored when released in early 1993, and it wasn’t until that fall—after the band opened for Suede and Duran Duran on their US tours—that MTV picked up on their single “Linger”. The song eventually peaked at #4 on the US Pop chart in 1994, and the album sold five million copies. Success around the world followed.

Later that year, the band released their sophomore album No Need To Argue, which went on to sell 7 million copies in the US. The lead single, “Zombie,” was a departure from the wistful love songs the band was known for, showcasing aggressive distorted guitars and a bold political message. The song was an immediate smash, hitting at #1 in several countries and topping the US Modern Rock chart. The follow-up single “Ode To My Family,” was a top 40 hit as well.

more tracks from the album

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

From the album

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2001)

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