The Moon Will Sing

The Crane Wives' song 'The Moon Will Sing' is a poignant exploration of identity, choice, and the dynamics of a relationship where one partner's influence is so strong that it overshadows the other's sense of self. The lyrics convey a narrative of someone who feels that their path in life has been significantly shaped by their partner, to the point where they question what they could have been had they not been under their partner's influence. The repeated line 'I could have been anyone, anyone else' suggests a yearning for an alternate reality where the speaker could have explored their own potential without being confined by the relationship.

The metaphor of the moon and the sun is central to the song's theme. The moon, which has no light of its own and shines only with the light given by the sun, symbolizes the speaker's feeling of having lived in the shadow of their partner. The speaker acknowledges that they 'loved you like the Sun,' indicating a deep affection, but also recognizes that they bore the 'shadows' created by their partner. This duality captures the complexity of love and dependency, where the light of one can both illuminate and overshadow the other.

The song also touches on themes of courage and self-assertion. The line 'Name your courage now' is a call to action, a challenge to reclaim what has been lost or suppressed. The imagery of swallowing doubt 'like swords to the pit of my belly' evokes the pain of self-sacrifice and the desire to feel the 'fire' that was kept from the speaker. This internal struggle and the quest for self-empowerment resonate with anyone who has felt overshadowed in a relationship and is seeking to find their own light.