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So, I understand what the idiom actually means, roughly -- "the final word,"
"the word from on high." But where does it come from? Is there a story or a
history that gives it context?
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question
etymology idioms
鶴の一声 -- Origin and context?
This expression appears to be the second part of the proverb:

雀{すずめ}の千声{せんこえ} 鶴{つる}の一声{ひとこえ}

See
[Weblio辞書](https://www.weblio.jp/content/%E9%9B%80%E3%81%AE%E5%8D%83%E5%A3%B0%E9%B6%B4%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%80%E5%A3%B0)
or
[コトバンク](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%9B%80%E3%81%AE%E5%8D%83%E5%A3%B0%E9%B6%B4%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%80%E5%A3%B0-541858).

`三省堂 大辞林` or `スーパー大辞林`:

> つまらない者の千言より，すぐれた人の一言がまさっていることのたとえ。

`デジタル大辞泉`:

> つまらない者の千言よりは、すぐれた者の一言のほうがまさっているということ。

In English:

`ウィズダム和英辞典`:

鶴{つる}の一声{ひとこえ}

> The king's word is more than another man's oath.
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2019-02-04T13:27:39.103
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answer
It is part of a longer saying
[雀の千声鶴の一声](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%9B%80%E3%81%AE%E5%8D%83%E5%A3%B0%E9%B6%B4%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%80%E5%A3%B0-541858),
which means that rather having than the 1000 voices of commoners (represented
by 雀) having a single voice from on high (represented by 鶴) is preferable.

The reason for using 鶴 is apparently because they have a long neck and their
cry is extremely high pitched cry, which overpowers the sounds in the
surroundings.

* * *

**References:**

  * [語源由来辞典](http://kotowaza-allguide.com/tu/tsurunohitokoe.html)
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2019-02-04T13:34:36.863
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answer
Cranes, like geese and so on will all take flight at once if just one of them
sound the alarm. So, 鶴の一声 references this quick obedience of the many to the
voice of just the one.

<https://www.weblio.jp/content/%E9%B6%B4%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%80%E5%A3%B0>
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answer