For My Sunday Song #297, we are talking about the song “Angel” by Judas Priest. The song is off their 2005 album ‘Angel of Retribution’. I picked another song that wasn’t a single and from an album that a lot of fans might not think about. The album is their 15th studio album and the first since 1990’s Painkiller to feature Rob Halford again on vocals.

The lyrics on this one seem to be really deep. That there is a deeper meaning to them that we weren’t meant to really understand. Is it about wanting to die and be taken to the land of peace with Christ? Is it about longing for a lover that has left and he just wants them back to be whole again? Is it about drugs and wanting to escape in them again where he could stop feeling all the pain this world brings? I don’t really have the answer, I guess you can interpret it however you want and none of it would be wrong. 

“Angel”, I think this might be one of the best ballads they have done. Rob’s vocals on this might be the best off the album as well. His vocals are smooth at times and full of emotion and it is just him and an acoustic guitar for most of the song. It has a very melancholy tone and is actually quite moving with its beautiful soaring vocals and the sweeping music seems to lift you in the sky with the angels. The bass comes in around the middle and then some electric guitars for the solo. The drums come in towards the end and brings the full band in to play. It is a beautifully constructed song and might be the best song on the album…who am I kidding, it is the best song on the album.

Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. What do you get out of the song and I am totally off base with all the options? Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful and Happy Sunday!!

“Angel”

Angel – put sad wings around me now
Protect me from this world of sin
So that we can rise again

Oh angel – we can find our way somehow
Escaping from the world we’re in
To a place where we began

And I know we’ll find
A better place and peace of mind
Just tell me that it’s all you want – for you and me
Angel won’t you set me free

Angel remember how we’d chase the sun
Then reaching for the stars at night
As our lives had just begun

When I close my eyes I hear your velvet wings and cry
I’m waiting here with open arms – oh can’t you see
Angel shine your light on me

Oh angel we’ll meet once more – I’ll pray
When all my sins are washed away
Hold me inside your wings and stay
Oh! angel take me far away

Put sad wings around me now
Angel take me far away
Put sad wings around me now
So that we can rise again

Written by Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing