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The Cranberries – "When You're Gone"

Released in October 1996 as the third single from To the Faithful Departed, "When You're Gone" became one of The Cranberries' most heartfelt songs. Written by Dolores O'Riordan after her grandfather Joe died in 1995, the song explores loss and longing—the feeling of emptiness when someone you love is no longer there. O'Riordan's lyrics balance love and heartbreak with the necessity of missing someone, making the song deeply personal yet universal.

Musically, "When You're Gone" is a rock ballad built around O'Riordan's aching, distinctive vocals and the band's melodic guitar work, building toward a chorus that captures the raw ache of grief.

The song peaked at No. 4 in Norway, where it earned a platinum disc, No. 15 in Canada, and No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, spending 20 weeks on the chart. Its black-and-white music video, directed by Karen Bellone, features the burning "yellow room" from the album cover over a body of water—a haunting visual to match the song's themes. In 2018, it was played at O'Riordan's funeral and simultaneously by Irish radio stations across the country, a final tribute to her voice.

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