@wwalterdm Sorry, even though I love John Prine, this does not compare to Dylan's masterpeces. I would rank John Prine right up there with Paul Simon.
First time I heard this, I figured the old woman was bemoaning her own mortality, and wasted life. I thought she was asking God to make her into something that wasn't fixing to disappear. "Just give me one thing that I can hold on to" I still stand by this interpretation. "To believe in this livin' is just a hard way to go"
@peerman2011: I guess I shouldn't have used the term "better," b/c I actually hate when people rank artists (and here I am doing it)! What I meant was that John Prine's writing seems more emotionally genuine to me. Dylan is great of course, but imo, he writes from his head, where it seems that Prine writes more from the heart. It's all subjective though.
I've loved this song for 40 years. But I watched the live version from a couple of years ago posted by Franny025. I think it's even better than this original.
No. This is a song written as a middle aged woman living a boring life who regrets her choices. She looks to her hero Hank Williams to make her life more exciting, hence the Angel From Montomery. Wikipedia : "While the family was living in Montgomery, Alabama, a teenaged Williams used to sing and play guitar on the sidewalk in front of the WSFA radio studios. He caught the attention of WSFA producers and started working there in 1937, singing and hosting a 15-minute program.
An "Angel from Montgomery" refers to a pardon for a prison sentence from the governor. It is also used to refer to a last minute pardon from the death sentence. The phrase originated in Alabama where the capital is Montgomery. The way John puts it the woman is living in her own self made prison that she can't escape from, hence she needs a pardon (the angel from Montgomery).
@28fireflies No, John Prine was intrigued by the idea of "a song about a middle-aged woman who feels older than she is... I had this really vivid picture of this woman standing over the dishwater with soap in her hands....She wanted to get out of her house and her marriage and everything. She just wanted an angel to come to take her away from all this." Prine believes he was likely drawn to Montgomery as the song's setting by virtue of being a fan of Hank Williams who had ties with that city.
There are 100's of great versions of this song on you tube, from John Prine and other people. and John Prine and other people together... but its always nice to come home to this version.
@thomasmoredamian I love Prine also, but there's no need to bring them guys into it. Springsteen's great, too. And Bobby D?.....He's almost a god. But, yes, Prine knows how to pluck them heart strings. "Hello in There" has welled my eyes more than once. So has this one.
ha im always making top 10 songs i ever heard
theyre always rockers and it's tough to whittle the list down
then angel from montgomery pops in my head
and my silly list goes out the window
ha some more cuz a-from-m isnt even my best prine
far from me is
except when i hear hello in there tho
oh #%^* fergit it how ya sposed to make a list of john prine's top 10?
JustAintthatWay 2 months ago
Oh my God!
peacedragon12 2 months ago
who gives a shit who's better...
i damn love this song
dizefx 3 months ago
This song is right on par with Dylan's best stuff, but Bobby D has about a hundred of them.
wwalterdm 4 months ago
@wwalterdm Sorry, even though I love John Prine, this does not compare to Dylan's masterpeces. I would rank John Prine right up there with Paul Simon.
terrible714 3 months ago
Still a beautiful song.
MrBluesrules 5 months ago
First time I heard this, I figured the old woman was bemoaning her own mortality, and wasted life. I thought she was asking God to make her into something that wasn't fixing to disappear. "Just give me one thing that I can hold on to" I still stand by this interpretation. "To believe in this livin' is just a hard way to go"
larrylunchbox1 5 months ago
the older i get the more it seems to be true to the meaning of the way i have felt life treats us
vjd2606 5 months ago
Better than Dylan. Simply the greatest song ever written, in my humble opinion. This man was a story teller of the highest order. Brilliant.
mlc2005 6 months ago 11
@mlc2005 nobody is better than dylan.
cbaGAGA 6 months ago
@cbaGAGA Phooey!!
IwanttoliveinParis 6 months ago
@mlc2005 dude is still alive
asturdybucket 3 months ago in playlist YouTube Mix for John Prine
@asturdybucket: That I know. "was a story teller" was not meant to imply he is dead. Obviously I am not the story teller that Prine is :)
mlc2005 3 months ago
@mlc2005 I SO agree!!!! You have put it just the right way, It cant be said any better!! ;)
MiniKitten92 2 months ago
@mlc2005 Better than Dylan? Now that's an ambitious statement. Prine is good, but Dylan is the master songwriter.
peerman2011 2 months ago
@peerman2011: I guess I shouldn't have used the term "better," b/c I actually hate when people rank artists (and here I am doing it)! What I meant was that John Prine's writing seems more emotionally genuine to me. Dylan is great of course, but imo, he writes from his head, where it seems that Prine writes more from the heart. It's all subjective though.
mlc2005 2 months ago
@mlc2005 I think maybe you should listen to the whole "Blood on the Tracks" album before making that statement.
bobdylanonacid 3 weeks ago
Better than Dylan. I can't help it yes.
peacedragon12 2 months ago
@peacedragon12 just as good, for sure
Jas35ful 2 months ago
@mlc2005 AMEN
Jas35ful 2 months ago
@mlc2005 imho dylan is a little(way way way) better.
broclops 1 month ago
God Bless John Prine - speaker of truth for so many.
GLG1957 7 months ago
I've loved this song for 40 years. But I watched the live version from a couple of years ago posted by Franny025. I think it's even better than this original.
Bamaboompa 8 months ago
Great album , every song's a gem...this versions live, but who cares..love ya John!
celloprofundo 8 months ago
Many thanks to 28fireflies for the explaination of the song's title. It sounds convincing to me!
I had often wondered about it since first hearing the song when I bought Bonnie Raitt's Streetlights album back in 1974.
She has recorded it numerous times since, and still features it in concerts.
John Prine is a great songwriter, and he sings them so well too. It took me a long time to catch up with the John Prine original
fredquimbythe23rd 9 months ago
@28fireflies
No. This is a song written as a middle aged woman living a boring life who regrets her choices. She looks to her hero Hank Williams to make her life more exciting, hence the Angel From Montomery. Wikipedia : "While the family was living in Montgomery, Alabama, a teenaged Williams used to sing and play guitar on the sidewalk in front of the WSFA radio studios. He caught the attention of WSFA producers and started working there in 1937, singing and hosting a 15-minute program.
alfagtvjan 10 months ago
i like the kristen stewart/into the wild version better =) this song is amazing
SuperTwilighter97 10 months ago
An "Angel from Montgomery" refers to a pardon for a prison sentence from the governor. It is also used to refer to a last minute pardon from the death sentence. The phrase originated in Alabama where the capital is Montgomery. The way John puts it the woman is living in her own self made prison that she can't escape from, hence she needs a pardon (the angel from Montgomery).
28fireflies 10 months ago 32
@28fireflies No, John Prine was intrigued by the idea of "a song about a middle-aged woman who feels older than she is... I had this really vivid picture of this woman standing over the dishwater with soap in her hands....She wanted to get out of her house and her marriage and everything. She just wanted an angel to come to take her away from all this." Prine believes he was likely drawn to Montgomery as the song's setting by virtue of being a fan of Hank Williams who had ties with that city.
mitchman11693 7 months ago
@28fireflies wow thank you
it all makes sense now
your a mini god in my book
fr33rubb3rs 7 months ago
@28fireflies cool..thanks for the insight..explains a lot
cw6983 7 months ago
I used to listen to this album on long car journeys when I was a kid, it's the first album I remember listening to. (Y)
CharlieSpencerMurray 11 months ago
My life is less empty now that I FOUND PRIME
Thank You
ElBoogieAmworld 11 months ago
There are 100's of great versions of this song on you tube, from John Prine and other people. and John Prine and other people together... but its always nice to come home to this version.
wistoncap 1 year ago
@wistoncap Old Crow Medicine Show do a great cover!
aaronboi07 1 year ago
John Prine...I love you! One of the greatest story tellers ever!
1krazy10ma 1 year ago
The one and only....talk about Dylan, talk about Springsteen all ya want: NOBODY makes you feel, touches your heart like John Prine does!
thomasmoredamian 1 year ago
@thomasmoredamian I love Prine also, but there's no need to bring them guys into it. Springsteen's great, too. And Bobby D?.....He's almost a god. But, yes, Prine knows how to pluck them heart strings. "Hello in There" has welled my eyes more than once. So has this one.
MckyMseNTarotCrds 9 months ago
Magic. (Thanks for posting)
jerryfalwellsociety 1 year ago 3