The Crane Wives - Ribs (Official Music Video) 

when you boil down all the emotions the crane wives songs make you feel you get either spite or sorrow and sometimes both

The Crane Wives is the first band that finally made me understand why people love music

I remember the first time I really **heard** this song while listening to it, I was on the verge of tears for the vast majority of it, the line, "Little girl don't let the sell you any armor, all your ribs are still your own," making me finally break down in tears. I'd been dealing with some repressed trauma, having realized that someone had assaulted me and I unfortunately hadn't quite realized when it occurred that that was what had happened. So it's three years after it happened, and suddenly I **realize.** And I felt lost, broken, like my body wasn't mine- but then I hear this, telling me exactly what I needed to hear in order to have the strength to deal with it. It was the comfort I was never given, the shelter I never had, someone that I could've safely told what happened then. Someone who would've told me, "You're still yours, you get to choose how that affected you, and you never have to feel that way again."

"The dark doesn't frighten me , I chose to close my eyes" IS SUCH A RAW LYRIC???? IM STILL THINKING ABOUT IT ITS SO GOOD

My interpretation is this song is about Lilith, the first wife of Adam. She was created separately of Adam, unlike Eve, who came from Adam’s rib (hence “No one gave up a rib for me” and “Calloused and untouched by a man's design”). She left Paradise because she refused to be subservient to Adam (which fits with the vibe of the song, being an independent woman). The line “Brick and mortar between my bones/ Built a kingdom fierce and fortified” talks about her making a new life for herself after leaving Adam. Lilith is known in many texts as a demon of the night. This song is her talking about how despite how she’s presented, abandoned and displaced, she is still satisfied because she can be independent (hence, choosing the darkness). She is the demon of night, an outcast but her life is hers, and hers alone. “My name fading from the yellow page”, The yellow page is the Bible, which has gotten so old, everyone has forgotten about Lilith after Eve. I didn’t have enough time to look into the significance of “Stones are laid upon the mountainside”, but knowing the Crane Wives, it’s gotta be DEEP AF. Maybe it has something to do with women being stoned to death over history, be it for infidelity, speaking up, displeasing their husband or being accused of being a witch? People have forgotten women can be strong so they oppress them. “Time has changed the metaphor/ Now, dust is not the origin of bone” This line is super clever, Lilith was created by God, not out of rib, but DUST. Over time, after everyone forgot about Eve, people forgot that Adam’s wife was not made of her own, separate materials, but now everyone believes Adam’s wife was always and only part of him. The metaphor of creation has changed, but Lilith is here to remind us she is still her own. The second part is Lilith talking to a girl, born thousands of years after her time. She is telling her that she’s lucky that she lives in an age where she can be strong and hold her own power (hence the shield that has been handed down through the struggle of other women, the little girl does not have to let men give her “a rib”, or power, she has it with her already). Lilith sees her struggle as worthy because other women have learned to not “buy the armor” others are selling them, because they can exist on their own. Their “ribs”, or existence, belong to them and then alone.

Marrow made a wife of Eve But no one gave up a rib for me And mine My heart did expose to the elements Calloused and untouched by a man's design Oh, my ugly organs How lucky we are Brick and mortar between my bones Built a kingdom fierce and fortified My name fading from the yellow page Stones are laid upon the mountainside Oh, my savage empire How lucky we are Never to be moved by the words of a liar The dark doesn't frighten me I chose to close my eyes; it is mine The night doesn't frighten me I chose to let it ride; it is mine Time has changed the metaphor Now, dust is not the origin of bone Little girl, don't let them sell you any armor All your ribs are still your own Oh, my precious child How lucky you are Handed down a shield for your tender parts The dark doesn't frighten me I chose to close my eyes; it is mine The night doesn't frighten me I chose to let it ride; it is mine The dark doesn't frighten me I chose to close my eyes; it is mine The night doesn't frighten me I chose to let it ride; it is mine

I knew that was Emilee's artwork the moment I saw it on the thumbnail. I still remember looking at her work in high school. She's come a long way.

I just thought this might be about adam's first wife, Lilith, who was independent and headstrong because she was made of the same clay as Adam. All her ribs were literally her own.

i'm an 18 year old transwoman in south carolina i've been listening to this on loop all day its the only thing thats letting me drown out intrusive thoughts of self harm thank you.

Honestly one of the best songs I've ever heard.

I absolutely LOVE the imagery in this video. I had to show it to my 14 year old daughter, a budding animator, whose artistic eye is SO similar that it's spooky. Her mind also conjures up fantasy images of animal skulls, sinew, blood, etc.

Got me feeling some kind of way. Not sure what exactly, but I think I need to run barefoot through the foggy woods and become joined with nature in all its savage majesty.

I'm so glad my daughters are growing up in a world where this song exists.

I'm almost in tears. I heard this song almost 3 years ago, and loved it. I couldn't stop thinking about it for a week, and when I went to retrieve it from my history, it was no where to be seen. It was saddening, since the song had such an impact on me. Fast forward three years, I find my new favorite song: Tongues and Teeth. Such a familiar voice with such a familiar name. I didn't realize until I dug into this channel that this song laid here. Thank you for making such inspirational and beautiful music. It's truly inspiring. I hope my band creates songs with equal if not greater passion.

Ok now I have no doubt that the Crane Wives absolutely make witch music, those guys are witches I swear, the whole bone theme, the witchy vibe in general and I mean listen to "The moon will sing" and tell me that's not a witch song referencing the god and godess like-

This song gives off that one feeling that you get once and once only

Oh god the art makes me feel. it's so good. there are so many details. Do you even SEE that hair??? And the song?? Jeez it all goes so well together. The song feels like the art and the art feels like the song.

Bone chilling! No pun intended lol.

0:12 I choose to read this as, “My name is the Crane Wives, but my friends call me Ribs”

As a transfem person who used to have a toxic relationship with religion and is most comfortable at night this song resonates deeply with me. Between all the symbolism of "little girl don't let them sell you any armor all your ribs are still your own". While on the other hand the sheer power "the dark doesn't frighten me I chose to let it thrive" exudes. Thanks for my new favorite song I'll add it to my playlist of 6 songs on loop, lol ❤

"Little girl, don't let them sell you any armor, all your ribs are still your own" *Everyone liked that*

It feels like I can smell paper and ink while watching this vid and its an unexpectedly lovely memory to recall with the song

"little girl don't let them sell you any armor, all your ribs are still your own" has me feeling An Emotion. anyways any angry and hurt women on the brink of losing it want to secretly train in the arts of archery and blood rituals on the edge of a forest of pines with me sometime?

This is awesome! I love how the illustrations reinforce a kind of atmospheric desolation and detachment, like sci-fi concept art. I always thought Show Your Fangs deserved a similar treatment.

Even though I’m a guy this version of Lilith is my favorite as someone who’s been in abusive relationships with parents and friends who control you like Adam wanted to control Lilith, I relate to her on so many levels, especially the chorus and the part “handed down a shield for your tender parts” because if it wasn’t for the hard work of the ones who fought before me so I could have the life I have I’d never have escaped the abuse of my family

As an AFAB nonbinary person, this song really speaks to me, especially the line, "No one gave up a rib for me and mine." I'm grateful I found the Crane Wives. All their music is amazing!

The Crane Wives, how is it being responsible for probably one of the most misheared lyrics in the history of music? Also, I love your music.

It really sounds like she's saying "Rick and Morty between my bones" and I can't get it out of my head 😅

First I listened to High Horse, then this. You've got yourself a new fan.

I can't find words to explain just how good this song, this art, and all the other songs are.

Revisiting this im loving the final chorus’s tone shift from sorrow pity and spite to mourning acceptance and empowerment and rejoicing the escape of abuse and owning yourself

My 14-year-old grandson turned me on to the Crane Wives, he has such empathy for people in such a great taste in music which I know he got from me I can only say when I heard this song explained immediately to me why he loved this band so much

I cry almost everytime I hear this song. It fills me with hope, but also sadness for them women who came before me. If you saw my Lilith theory, it also makes me so mad. Lilith was the first woman, and she did not want to be lesser than Adam. She said, "I will not lie below," and he said, "I will not lie beneath you, but only on top. For you are fit only to be in the bottom position, while I am to be the superior one”. She wanted to be equal and for that her name became synonymous with a demon, an uncontrollable, evil demon. So many feels ;((

Ya'll need a doctor. I think you have a serious case of ''underrated''!

great to see this band of talented and just nice people making it and not giving up. true artists not the usual crap you hear on the radio. they set poetry to music. turned many people here in Buenos Aires on to this group. Looking forward to your show in Traverse city this summer.

This is my personal favorite song of yours, it fully expresses a feeling I have that I just cannot fully explain. Thank you for making me feel less alone.

THIS BASS LINE WHAT

Found this today, and damn. Just fucking chills. Sometimes it do be like that.

This is prob my fav song from the Crane Wives and also in general, but I like pretty much all the songs from The Crane Wives

...Well that's one way to inspire body positivity.

Theres just something about that guitar that is so RAW

All your music is too underrated ESPECIALLY this song. Literally makes me feel feelings I didn't even know existed Truly a masterpiece

I love the one image with the barn owl. I'd actually love to get a tattoo of that.

I love this song so much, and the music video is amazing!!

Holy wow! Any plans for Emilee to have a gallery show? I'm already a fan of the music, but that art!

so now that ive seen the clip this song has a whole new terrifying meaning. really glad it was added to the playlist from the topic channel.

this & the moon will sing will forever be some of my most important adds to many "about me" playlists thanks to the emotions they dig up & the places they hit for me but wow.. i just returned yesterday from a pretty serious suicide attempt & i was wanting to hear music i adore. i'm in a mood right now where i'm so so so so beyond grateful to be alive still and this song just hit me in a way it never has before. you guys are something special, your music has grown and changed with me, adapted to my life, reached deep to emotions i couldn't imagine trying to fit into words. thank you for this, and for the moon will sing, and for so many others. i'll sleep well tonight, i believe. thank you once again. be well 💛

Am I the only one who thinks this band hits the soul of Indy game Wildermyth?

"my heart is exposed to the almonds" is what i heard the first time

When they said "Rick and Morty" between my bones, I felt that.

This song I only found it recently but it has gotten me through something unimaginably hard to even begin to explain. I needed to hear this it has brought me great peace and the beauty of the lyrics moves me in ways I never thought possible. I love you guys and your music keep putting out such soul felt beauties and may your growth everlast you guys are amazing!

My favourite song ♥️touches me in a way nothing else compares. So poignant of the female experience.

my life is mine. and my body is mine to make choices over. i dont belong to anyone else. and i think thats beautiful.

Goosebumps the whole time...

This is a beautiful and wildly impactful song, and I don't want to diminish that in any way........... but also every single time I hear what's supposed to be "brick and mortar" at 1:07 I instead hear "Rick and Morty between my bones" and I don't know how to stop

My aunt Elizabeth Fowler (Lizzie Liberty ) recommended you guys to me. I love your music and can't wait for the album!

This is my second favorite song by y’all. It feels how my soul does.

Was awesome hearing this live tonight. I'm going to have to share it again!

This song is absolutely gorgeous!

This very song and these very illustrations really be the only thing keeping me sane sometimes thank you so much for making this

Good art accompanied with good music is always good

This song always hits so different. Beautiful and sad and defiant.

You guys are underrated. Keep it up!

Why are you so underrated? Your band is my favorite band I adore you guys I hate that you’re so underrated! You need more fans a lot more fans

The art on this video is so incredible. I love how well it fits with the song!

The images on this video remind me of the legend and myth of the Native American Navajo Skin -Walkers. The folk tail of shape shifters that can posses or disguise themselves as an animal. The Creative Crain Wives' Songs Are Where Legends Are Born.. Be Ware Of The Fox, She's A Crafty One ! By the way nice tune..

Yes to this.

Im a AFAB enbyflux person and i just wanna say that this song hits hard im so glad i found this band ♥️

This song makes me sob every time

I saw you guys at a local concert (Summer Breeze, Norman Oklahoma, July 2017 (please remember XD)) and I am so glad I casually bought 3 of your CD albums when I was there; I had no clue how amazing all of you are. I just finished listening to The Fool in Her Wedding Gown on digital, and I gotta say I don’t understand why your band isn’t better known. It just makes me sad that the masses can’t accept songs like this; songs that are so thought provoking. You guys rock!

Wow. Beautiful.

Uuuuugh I love it so much.

So much yes!!

Suggestion:put lyrics in your descriptions...Thanks for your music.

I'm so glad that exactly one year I discovered you guys! I can't resist to your songs that make many references to the God, the Goddess, just my belief!!! I love supernatural, and I'm glad for being your witch fan!!!

So lemme get this straight I find a song called curses thru spotify shuffle because i really wanted to listen to harpy hare, and i immediately envision it to a montage scene of a movie i made up in my head where soundwise and lyricwise it fits perfectly where im loving everything on a spiritual level, and then I check out the album foxlore track 1 up to this one and i find out at the end the album was released on my BIRTHDAY???? the signs are killin me

There isn't a single frame in this video that wouldn't make a sick ass tattoo

"The night doesn't bother me, I chose to let it thrive, and it is MINE, IT IS MINE..." That says everything, and if you know me, and the sick sad faery tale that has been my life, you'd know it would become my anthem, but I'd rather you not know why it chills my bones in the most beautiful way, and makes me feel so deeply the feral strength that runs forever like (S)teel through my blood, the last one standing- Mimi, Mommy, Papa, Daddy- I am the sum total of you all, my ghosts in the trees, and I am finally home among you once more, my savage empire regained, and I will NEVER LEAVE this time, I won't murder you all twice, I have tasted karma and retribution and finally seen forgiveness and peace reflected in a horse's eye, the greatest gift of all you nudged me toward, taking better care of me in the afterlife than you ever did when you were living, guiding my way into a life I am finally willing to fight for... I had to lose so much to gain this tenuous high ground, and somehow I am starting to realize it was all worth it, maybe the cards added up after all... Anyway. Out of steam now. Yet another amazing song from an amazing band I wish I had found long ago, although it's crazy what finds you in it's own time, if you let things come, they will- the things that resonate will somehow find their way to you, when the time is most right for them... I have to trust that much. I think I am starting to... Thank you for this song, and all the others. (Riding the high- today, the crash. Maybe the cards don't add up after all, maybe nothing does, or I was simply never meant to be here... Manic depression is a hell of a ride, I'll give it that much...)

I just now found your music and I love it so much I cant believe how good you are ❤❤❤

I will forever and always translate this song for myself: Stand up as an independent woman and never throw your entire existence to a man. I’ve come back to it so many times over the years as my strength song. “Little girl don’t let them sell you any armor, all your ribs are still your own.”

This video triggered some deja vu in my for the entire first time I watched it and I can’t tell if it’s because I’ve heard the song before or just cause of sleep deprivation

Amazing!

Omfg I love the crane wives

I am coming this Thursday to your thing

Roe v Wade has now been overturned and I will simply sit in a corner, listening to this song as I cry.

Easily all the illustrations could be a pretty nice tattoo! I would like to make one based on the drawing at minute 2:05 and minute 3:40

My computer held on at 1% battery for me to finish this song. That is some mad commitment.

I love this song. I truly do. But every time I hear "Brick and mortar between my bones", my brain parses it as "Rick and Morty between my bones"...

The amount of transfemmes in these comments, makes me, a trans man, fucking giddy. Good for you, babes

Just saw this on r/listentothis Damn this is fantastic.

Is this song inspired by Lilith?

Idk if someone has arleady asked that question, but someone know who is the artist? 'Cause the draw is really wonderful... (Sorry for any mistake in my english, btw)

Heya! I was hoping I could use one of your songs for an animation of mine, is it ok with you if I use it? I will give proper credit as well of course

I keep thinking shes saying Rick and Morty between my bones TwT

Why do these songs remind me so much of Over the Garden Wall?

As a genderfluid afab this song gives me such a powerful feeling

Rick and Morty between my bones

1:08 Rick and Morty between my bones

The night doesn't fighting me I chose to let it thrive,it is mine.... I understand

Are they singing about Eve or Lillith?