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Bonnie Raitt — Angel From Montgomery
Album: Streetlights
Avg rating:
8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1309









Released: 1974
Length: 3:52
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I am an old woman
Named after my mother
My old man is another
Child that's grown old

If dreams were thunder
Lightning was desire
This old house woulda burnt down
A long time ago

Make me an angel
That flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster
Of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing
That I can hold on to
To believe in this livin'
Is just a hard way to go

When I was a young girl
Well I had me a cowboy
It weren't much to look at
Just a free ramblin' man
But that was a long time
And no matter how I tried
Those years just flow by
Like a broken down dam

Make me an angel
That flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster
Of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing
That I can hold on to
To believe in this livin'
Is just a hard way to go

There's flies in the kitchen
I can hear them there buzzin'
And I ain't done nothin' since I woke up today
But how the hell can a person
Go to work in the mornin'
And come home in the evenin'
And have nothin' to say

Make me an angel
That flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster
Of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing
That I can hold on to
To believe in this livin'
Is just a hard way to go
Comments (63)add comment
8—>9
Posted 1 year ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
one of my favorites from Bonnie 
Posted 1 year ago by htayurt533    [ Reply ]
Well that's just friggin' ridiculous, a sixty-three-yr-old man isn't supposed to be standing at the kitchen sink doin' dishes with tears in his eyes and his singalong voice choked up. Sheese. Bonnie still does it to me. :-)
Posted 2 years ago by ExpatLarry    [ Reply ]
Excellent song, cover, and musician, but because my taste in leaning blues runs more towards folk than country, my favourite version by far is the one by Alison Krauss.
Posted 2 years ago by myrwin    [ Reply ]
 jjbchansen159 wrote:

Nothing against Prine, but this is the version. 



He don't mind, he gave it to her. 
Posted 2 years ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
 corbu wrote:

I don't have tears in my eyes.



Damn onions!
Posted 2 years ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
Nothing against Prine, but this is the version. 
Posted 2 years ago by jjbchansen159    [ Reply ]
Now those are some gosh darn lyrics!
Posted 2 years ago by ddbz    [ Reply ]
I still hear Laura 'Leslie Spit Tree-o' Hubert's voice by default for this song.
Posted 2 years ago by ArrayMac    [ Reply ]
 Clark_Novato wrote:




I am so glad i find a lot of hidden gems on RP
Posted 2 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
I don't have tears in my eyes.
Posted 2 years ago by corbu    [ Reply ]
sad to say I don't know this but I love it - Bless BR and JP .... that's all
Posted 3 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
 pxd wrote:

BR sings JP - what’s not to like? This song has been a fav for me since I first heard it in the mid/late 70s. pxd




saw both John and Bonnie sing this live in Chicago separately back in the early 70's. Love both versions. always brings me to tears.
Posted 3 years ago by egiemills5182827    [ Reply ]
 jp33442 wrote:
This is a nine because of bonnie singing this and the late john prine writing it
My exact sentiments.  Prine was a great songwriter, but he was on a different plane when writing this one.
 

Posted 3 years ago by Clark_Novato    [ Reply ]
 Edweirdo wrote:

I'm guessing that if she'd become a Trumpist, you wouldn't have minded.


Agreed. It seems like right-wingers always get upset about musicians getting political. I guess they don't like it when the musicians are correct?
Posted 3 years ago by 3Chords    [ Reply ]
This is a nine because of bonnie singing this and the late john prine writing it
Posted 3 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
 iloveradio wrote:
Bonnie Raitt is a national treasure.
 

Yes. She is.
Posted 3 years ago by reallylost    [ Reply ]
Agnosticism be damned, God Bless John Prine and God Bless Bonnie Raitt.
Posted 3 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
 (Banned) wrote:
I used to like Bonnie Raitt, until she became political.  I couldn't care less about her now.  She ruined her music.  You can go ahead and pile on me now, I couldn't give a shit.  
 
I'm guessing that if she'd become a Trumpist, you wouldn't have minded.
Posted 3 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite songs to perform live. I used to play guitar and sing backgrounds on this in a small group and we arranged 4 part harmonies on the chorus. Just a magical song that is a part of my fondest musical memories.
Posted 3 years ago by hbriggs60    [ Reply ]
Goosebumps when I hear this.  Just... lovely.
Posted 4 years ago by principekd    [ Reply ]
'To believe in this livin' is just a hard way to go'. It certainly is.
Posted 4 years ago by welder    [ Reply ]
Time & time again I find myself listening to something here & think, "oh yeah, that's a  [rating #]" - then I go to rate it, and find I've already done so - with the same rating! (at least I'm consistent ).

And so this one stays a 9 for me.
Posted 4 years ago by principekd    [ Reply ]
WOW.
Posted 4 years ago by jelgator    [ Reply ]
 drictor wrote:

Yup, that.
 
Ditto.
Posted 4 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
Simply beautiful.
Posted 4 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]
What a fantastic album - I really loved this song and John Prine. Bonnie always covered the most amazing songs. Fun to sing along
Posted 4 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
A fantastic song. RIP John Prine.
Posted 4 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
 keelo wrote:
Sad day. The live duet with John and Bonnie comes to mind
 

Yes, I watched a video them performing this song together on Youtube just this morning when I heard the news of John's passing.
Posted 4 years ago by sbondy    [ Reply ]
Great John Prine cover - this is the first Prine song I learned on the guitar.
When this damn covid is over, my buddies and I will do a guitar campfire  tribute to John of his songs.

RIP John.
Posted 4 years ago by slav    [ Reply ]
 PeterMcClelland wrote:
I’m getting all tearful here. Today a 10
 
Yup, that.
Posted 4 years ago by drictor    [ Reply ]
I'm glad we had the chance to see him a few years back. Very special.

Saw Ms. Raitt about a year ago - she is still spectacular.
c.
Posted 4 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
I’m getting all tearful here. Today a 10
Posted 4 years ago by PeterMcClelland    [ Reply ]
Tearing up at this song, today, more than usual. Thanks for the Prine double-play, RP.
Posted 4 years ago by gildflee    [ Reply ]
Sad day. The live duet with John and Bonnie comes to mind
Posted 4 years ago by keelo    [ Reply ]
The best version of this song. IMHO.
Posted 4 years ago by steviedeant    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:
I think her version is just a little better than Mr Prine.  Her live versions of this are exquisite. 
 
I think Mr. Prine would agree with you. In an interview (I think it may have been Bob Edwards, but doesn't matter) he was asked about covers and he picked this one as special. In his words, she took that song and made it hers.

John Prine is another national treasure.
Posted 4 years ago by tcseeley    [ Reply ]
 (Banned) wrote:
I used to like Bonnie Raitt, until she became political.  I couldn't care less about her now.  She ruined her music.  You can go ahead and pile on me now, I couldn't give a shit.  
 

Damn right cause artists have less of a right to free speech than the average person. (insert sarcasm font)
Posted 4 years ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
bonnie played this song on colbert recently
Posted 5 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
 iloveradio wrote:
Bonnie Raitt is a national treasure.
 
When she does this live it makes ya cry.  What a tribute to the great John Pryne.
Posted 5 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
Even though the live version is a bit better, this is still a gem of a song.
Posted 5 years ago by bluematrix    [ Reply ]
 (Banned) wrote:
I used to like Bonnie Raitt, until she became political. 
 

You mean back in '72? 
Posted 5 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
It comes to this. 

No matter how old you grow we are all, each and every one of us, just aging children aren't we?  

So it goes.

Highlow
American Net'Zen
Posted 5 years ago by Highlowsel    [ Reply ]
I feel the same way about The guy from REM
(Banned) wrote:
I used to like Bonnie Raitt, until she became political.  I couldn't care less about her now.  She ruined her music.  You can go ahead and pile on me now, I couldn't give a shit.  
 

Posted 5 years ago by bdwhitepm    [ Reply ]
I used to like Bonnie Raitt, until she became political.  I couldn't care less about her now.  She ruined her music.  You can go ahead and pile on me now, I couldn't give a shit.  
Posted 5 years ago by WannabeBanned    [ Reply ]
Only rating this a 9 because the performance by a beautiful young woman when I was in uni sets the 10 bar, still making my heart and everything between my waist and knees ache when I think about it.
Posted 5 years ago by haresfur    [ Reply ]
I think her version is just a little better than Mr Prine.  Her live versions of this are exquisite. 
Posted 5 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Bonnie -- the real deal, always.
Posted 6 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
 iloveradio wrote:
Bonnie Raitt is a national treasure.

 
Absolutely. I still have this LP and play it, along with a number of her other LPs and CDs (still old school here). And I've seen her live 3 or 4 times. She's the real deal, and has been so for a remarkably long time.
Posted 6 years ago by pixelhutt    [ Reply ]
Bonnie Raitt is a national treasure.
Posted 6 years ago by iloveradio    [ Reply ]
Taking refuge from Poe. Won't be here long.
Posted 6 years ago by gmichaelt    [ Reply ]
Bonnie was a great touchstone for Americana before that was a turn, definitely Blues and worked with the best composers of the time.  I had this album so wonderful to hear this again.
Posted 6 years ago by LAwolf8    [ Reply ]
I love her, I love the singing, I love the song.   I am an aging manchild who remembers when this was new and hearing it from that album makes me feel new again for a moment.
Posted 6 years ago by Wardleader    [ Reply ]
BR sings JP - what’s not to like? This song has been a fav for me since I first heard it in the mid/late 70s. pxd
Posted 6 years ago by pxd    [ Reply ]
Love Bonnie, but I have to say that I like Susan Tedeschi's cover better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUSqw0jVZqQ
Posted 6 years ago by clickfaster    [ Reply ]
{#Hearteyes}  love Ms Raitt big time (looked for an emoji with hearts coming out of its ears)
Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Love ya Bonnie.
Posted 7 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
 Pearhead wrote:

Aye.....
is this the version with John Prine? Looks like this one has slipped under Bill's radar for what.....going on 3 years now? Seems to me this is right up Goldsmith alley. :?
 
Prine's not on this version.  He recorded a live version with her some years later.
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 easmann wrote:

Amen. : )

 
Hear hear!


Posted 7 years ago by nomnol    [ Reply ]
song from heaven, voice of an Angel
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]

Bonnie Raitt - "Angel from Montgomery" Live (1974):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhe3vb0z7mY


Posted 15 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Leslie wrote:
Perhaps my most favorite Bonnie Raitt tune of all time.
Aye..... is this the version with John Prine? Looks like this one has slipped under Bill's radar for what.....going on 3 years now? Seems to me this is right up Goldsmith alley. :?
Posted 20 years ago by Pearhead    [ Reply ]
Perhaps my most favorite Bonnie Raitt tune of all time.
Posted 22 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]