https://soundcloud.com/wabash-cannibal/honky-tonk-angel

Honky Tonk Angel ©2004 Tapani Rauha/Robert George


In some honky tonk in Silver City,
A man poured himself a glass of pity
Because he’d lost his woman and his wage
Then the juke went dead and from nowhere,
A rhinestone girl…a rose in her hair
Stepped out from the crowd and up on stage

Without even a guitar player,
She sang an old song like a prayer
That gave him the strength to go on
When she finished he put his glass down
And made his way onto the stage and looked around
But with heaven’s grace…she was gone

She’s a honky tonk angel
Sent to bind up broken hearts
And shine a light on lives
Grown shadowy and dark
She heals you with her voice
Lifts you up when she sings
She’s a honky tonk angel
And her songs are her wings

It’s been years now since her song of glory,
But now n then we still hear stories
From others who once lost it all
They say a rhinestone beauty still haunts,
These saloons and honky tonks
With songs that help them walk tall

She’s a honky tonk angel
Sent to bind up broken hearts
And shine a light on lives
Grown shadowy and dark
She heals you with her voice
Lifts you up when she sings
She’s a honky tonk angel
And her songs are her wings

Somewhere in the moonlight
She’s walkin’ after midnight

She’s a honky tonk angel
Sent to bind up broken hearts
And shine a light on lives
Grown shadowy and dark
She heals you with her voice
Lifts you up when she sings
She’s a honky tonk angel
And her songs are her wings

She’s a honky tonk angel…

Very nice lyric, melody and production. Enjoyed. Best of luck with it.

----Dave

Hi Rob,

Very nice work, here.

Your singer really sells it, and the band is excellent. I especially enjoyed the tremolo guitars and swelling pedal steel..


Mike

Wow the vocals are sang beautifully and the production is very well done.

Hi Rob ...

Nicer to hear your original music again. Really nice song and the vocalist and band di a great job for you. A traditional country song with a modern treatment that works. Really, really nice. Enjoyed it a bunch.

Best to you ...

Alan

this was the first real country lyric I wrote(I think) and I'm pretty sure it was posted here. I was invited to Nashville by the co-writer who very generously demoed this and several others with top session players including Chris Leuzinger (Garth's guitarist), Russ Pahl, Dave Pomeroy and others I can't recall. The singer was Kim Allayne(sp?) who I think has since married.
They were unbelievable.

That lady can sing! Her voice and the first two lines are the things I enjoyed most about this. For me personally, the melody was maybe the weakest link. It was fine, but felt a little bit generic. Probably just me. I enjoyed listening.

She can definitely sing. As I recall, she sang regularly at a blues club. On one tune, she said a line of mine sang awkwardly and she
didn't wanna sing it. Fortunately, I was able to rewrite it on the spot. It was a lesson in meter and singability I never forgot.

This was written for a huge chorus with the big lyrical reveal in the bridge.

Hey Robert,

Great tune here. Spot on in every respect. No nits from me.

cheers, niteshift

Great song couchgrouch all around.
well written, loved the story, super music and singer. Lane

Thanks again, folks.