It was a banner year for the Knowles family. While Beyoncé took the top spot on the Village Voice Pazz & Jop singles list, her sister Solange landed at #3 with ‘Cranes in the Sky.’
Solange also claimed the fifth spot on the albums list for her record A Seat at the Table. Stellar showing, no doubt, but I kind of feel bad that Solange put out a critically-acclaimed, career-defining album the same year her sister put out an even more critically-acclaimed, career-defining album. It’s like Venus making it to the finals at Wimbledon only to lose to Serena.
I like what I’ve heard from A Seat at the Table but haven’t been blown away by it. I can’t see why this song, for example, was declared the third best of the year by more than 500 critics. Haven’t we heard 100 R&B songs just like it?
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
[Verse 2]
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
[Verse 3]
I tried to keep myself busy
I ran around in circles
Think I made myself dizzy
I slept it away, I sexed it away
I read it away
Away
[Refrain 1]
Away, away, away, away, away
Away, away, away, away, away
[Hook 1]
Well it’s like cranes in the sky
Sometimes I don’t wanna feel those metal clouds
Yeah, it’s like cranes in the sky
Sometimes I don’t wanna feel those metal clouds
[Verse 4]
I tried to run it away
Thought then my head be feeling clearer
I traveled 70 states
Thought moving round make me feel better
[Verse 5]
I tried to let go my lover
Thought if I was alone then maybe I could recover
To write it away or cry it away
Don’t you cry baby
Away
[Refrain 1]
Away, away, away, away, away
Away, away, away, away, away
[Hook 2]
But it’s like cranes in the sky
Sometimes I don’t wanna feel those metal clouds
Yeah, it’s like cranes in the sky
Sometimes I don’t wanna feel those metal…
[Refrain 2]
Away, away, away, away, away
Away, away, away, away, away
Away, away, away, away, away
Away, away, away, away, away
Away, away, away, away, away
Away, away, away, away, away
Meet Me In Montauk 
I agree. Pleasant enough R&B song, but nothing so exceptional.