Angel of Harlem

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This song from Rattle and Hum continues the path started by U2 on their previous album (The Joshua Tree) to explore American music history and its figures. This song in… Read More

Oct. 10, 19881 viewer15.7K views

Angel of Harlem Lyrics

[Verse 1]
It was a cold and wet December day
When we touched the ground at JFK
The snow was melting on the ground
On BLS I heard the sound
Of an angel
New York like a Christmas tree
Tonight this city belongs to me
Angel

[Chorus]
Soul love
Well, this love won't let me go
So long
Angel of Harlem

[Verse 2]
Birdland on Fifty-Three
The street sounds like a symphony
We got John Coltrane and A Love Supreme
Miles says she's got to be an angel
Lady Day got diamond eyes
She sees the truth behind the lies
Angel

[Chorus]
Soul love
Well, this love won't let me go
So long
Angel of Harlem
Angel of Harlem, yeah

[Bridge]
She says it's heart, heart and soul
Yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah, right now

[Verse 3]
Blue light on the avenue
God knows they got to you
Empty glass, the lady sings
Eyes swollen like a bee-sting
Blinded, you lost your way
In the side streets and the alleyways
Like a star exploding in the night
Falling to the city in broad daylight

[Chorus]
Angel in devil's shoes
Salvation in the blues
You never looked like an angel
Yeah, yeah
Angel of Harlem

[Outro]
Angel, angel of Harlem
Angel, angel of Harlem
Angel, angel of Harlem
Angel, angel of Harlem
(Alright, that's alright, that's alright)
(Angel of Harlem)

About

This song from Rattle and Hum continues the path started by U2 on their previous album (The Joshua Tree) to explore American music history and its figures. This song in particular is an homage to jazz legend Billie Holiday, who started her career singing in Harlem’s nightclubs.