This is the first in a series inspired by the Decemberists' tryptic of songs entitled 'My Crane Wife I, II and III'.
To me, the songs tell the story often followed by the relationships we enter into. You meet and it all feels magical - some star strung event, some mystical aura around the person. But eventually the honeymoon is over, and you start to take advantage of the person you once thought of as a blessing. Eventually, that person will leave you. In doing so all of the mundane parts of your relationship dissolve, and they re-enter that mystical part of your memory. All you can do is regretfully, and in disbelief, think back on why you behaved the way you did.
I am also focussing on the connection between the crane and the woman. Many traditional stories liken cranes to women. I love in this song how the crane symbolism highlights that magical aura around a person when your relationship begins and ends; when they first meet the crane symbolism is strong however as time progresses the likening to a crane diminishes, his crane wife becomes more human. Finally, when she leaves, the crane imagery returns with full strength.
Many traditional stories also tell of a lonely country man stumbling upon some woman-animal spirit and taking her as a wife. This idea of 'domesticating' applies i think to both the domestication of animals and the domestication of a romantic partner (not just women). The idea of wanting to keep something for yourself, to take it into your home and make it yours is pervasive in all of us. Taking something that was once independent and free and leading it to live your life, to help you on your path. In this song in particular i love how this revolves around some moment of vulnerability, when the cranes grace and pride is diminished.
