Angel
Sarah McLachlan
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Spend all your time waiting For that second chance For a break that would make it okay There's always some reason To feel not good enough And it's hard, at the end of the day I need some distraction Oh, beautiful release Memories seep from my veins And maybe empty Oh, and weightless, and maybe I'll find some peace tonight In the arms of the angel Fly away from here From this dark, cold hotel room And the endlessness that you fear You are pulled from the wreckage Of your silent reverie You're in the arms of the angel May you find some comfort here So tired of the straight line And everywhere you turn There's vultures and thieves at your back The storm keeps on twisting Keep on building the lies That you make up for all that you lack It don't make no difference Escape one last time It's easier to believe in this sweet madness Oh, this glorious sadness That brings me to my knees In the arms of the angel Fly away from here From this dark, cold hotel room And the endlessness that you fear You are pulled from the wreckage Of your silent reverie You're in the arms of the angel May you find some comfort here You're in the arms of the angel May you find some comfort here
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Written by: Sarah McLachlan
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
22 facts about this song
Release and Reception"Angel" is one of Sarah McLachlan's most successful songs. It was released in 1998 as part of the album "Surfacing."
- It topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in the United States and reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Song InspirationThe song was inspired by the death of the Smashing Pumpkins' touring keyboardist, Jonathan Melvoin, who overdosed on heroin.
- McLachlan wanted to write about the tragedy, focusing on the pain and devastation of addiction.
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Music VideoThe music video for "Angel" shows McLachlan in an airplane graveyard.
- The video won the award for Best Female Video at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Charity Usage"Angel" has become famous for its use in commercials for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
- The commercials, featuring heart-wrenching images of mistreated animals accompanied by the song, reportedly increased the ASPCA's regular monthly donations.
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Popular CultureDue to the emotional impact of the song, it has frequently been used in television and film.
- Some notable examples include "City of Angels," "Dawson's Creek," and "General Hospital."
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Covers and PerformancesMany notable artists have covered "Angel," acknowledging its universal appeal.
- Artists including, Jessica Simpson, Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson, and David Archuleta among others, have done their renditions of the song.
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Sarah's Connection to the SongBeing the writer and performer of the song, Sarah McLachlan has a deep connection with "Angel".
- In an interview with Billboard magazine in 1998, she commented that the song "feels like it's been written through me."
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Awards and Recognition"Angel" won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1999.
- It also won the Juno Award for Single of the Year in 1999 in McLachlan's home country of Canada.
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Chart SuccessThe success of "Angel" wasn't limited to North America; it charted in several countries worldwide, including United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany.
- It went on to become one of the most successful songs of 1999 in the United States.
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Historical Significance"Angel" was released by Sarah McLachlan on November 24, 1997. It is a track from her fourth studio album, "Surfacing".
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Sales and ChartsThe song peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, showcasing its wide acceptance and success within the music community.
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Background and InspirationMcLachlan wrote the song as a response to the high-profile death of Smashing Pumpkins keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin due to a heroin overdose. The track is often interpreted as a message about drug addiction and its tragic consequences.
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Cultural ImpactThe TV show "City Confidential" frequently used "Angel" in the underscoring of its closing scenes.
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Philanthropic ImportanceThe song was featured in the ASPCA's (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) very successful "Angel" commercial.
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Awards and RecognitionsIn 1999, "Angel" won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
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Cover VersionsVarious artists have covered "Angel," including Jackie Evancho, Celtic Woman, Jessica Simpson, and Katherine Jenkins.
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Notable PerformancesMcClachlan performed the song in a duet with Pink at the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in September 2011.
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In Media and Film"Angel" has been featured on the soundtrack for numerous films and TV series, including "City of Angels" and episodes of "Dawson's Creek" and "Brothers & Sisters".
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Musical CompositionThe song is noted for its piano-based musical structure and minimalistic instrumental arrangement. McLachlan's soft, emotional vocals are the highlight of the track, which is written in the key of D-flat major.
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Commercial SuccessOver time, "Angel" has become one of McLachlan's biggest hits, selling over 3 million digital copies in the U.S. by 2015.
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Global ReceptionBeyond the U.S., "Angel" also charted well in the United Kingdom, Australia, and McLachlan's native Canada.
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Legacy"Angel" continues to be widely recognized and appreciated even decades after its release, proving its timeless appeal.
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