THE ANGEL

Live 22 Apr 1996 version

[Spoken intro:] Alright, uh, this is a song somebody, somebody asked for, that the last time I played it, I was 24 years old. Wasn't that long ago! Don't get all excited, I can still do it! (chuckles) Hey! Well, I better start playing and stop talking now. (chuckles) Alright, this is for whoever, I don't know who asked for it, but here it comes. See if I remember how I was gonna play it. Wait!
Enjoying it already, just for myself! (laughs)

The angel rides with hunch-back children
Poison oozing from his engine
Wieldin' love as a lethal weapon
He's on his way to hubcap heaven
Baseball cards poked in his spokes
His boots in oil he's patiently soaked
The roadside attendant nervously jokes
As the angel's tires stroke the pavement

Well, the interstate's choked with nomadic hordes
In Volkswagen vans, yeah, dragging great anchors
Followin' dead-end signs into the sores
The angel rides by

Madison Avenue's claim to fame
In a trainer bra with eyes like rain
She rubs against the weather-beaten frame
And asks the angel for his name
Off in the distance the marble dome
Reflects across the flatlands into parts unknown
Yeah, the woman strokes the polished chrome
And lies beside the angel's bones

[Spoken outro:] What the hell was I talking about in that song? I didn't bother, I didn't worry about that. (laughs)

Info

The above lyrics are for the live 22 Apr 1996 performance of THE ANGEL at Royal Albert Hall in London, England, during The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour. The song was played in a solo acoustic guitar and harmonica arrangement. This was the only performance of the song on The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour, and the first since 1973.

Ticket stub for the 22 Apr 1996 show at Royal Albert Hall, London, England

Credits

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Available Versions

List of available versions of THE ANGEL on this website:

Page last updated: 14 Oct 2010