Angel from Montgomery - John Prine & Bonnie Raitt (cover)

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪ I think I was four years old when John Prine & Bonnie Raitt sang this phenomenal song together in 1974 on 'Streetlights.' The lyrics suit a female singer, though there's more behind the song.

I've heard Prine describe the woman in the song as a lonely, bored housewife whose husband doesn't pay attention to her anymore.

I've also heard he wrote it to talk about a woman convicted of first degree murder and sitting on death row in Alabama asking for clemency in the form of an 'Angel From Montgomery.'

Since I believe taking life is amoral, the death penalty is too broken and fallible (hundreds of exonerees because of mistaken eyewitness identifications, coerced confessions, and advances in DNA, toxicology, and forensic science), and its cost vs successful execution ratio is so weak, I like Prine's second explanation better. I hope her appellate angels at least got her death sentence commuted to life without parole...

I played it with a capo on the first fret, experimenting with that octave range, and changing the lyrics slightly so that it's a man on death row.

It's also a great song sans capo for a jam session if someone is sporting a C harmonica. Bonnie plays it best with a capo on the second fret and a little draw on the A string, which is a version I'll try to post later.

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Angel
• From
• Montgomery
• John
• Prine
• Haystack
• Bonnie
• Raitt
• Streetlights
• Acoustic
• Guitar
• Michael
• Jay
• Shaw
• Martin
• D-15
• Country

[guywolff]

Just beautiful .. Thanks Guy

[michaeljayshaw]

Guy! Thanks so much, your version is great too. ~m

[Cameragirl803]

You did a great job with this song! Very nice singing and the guitar was played so nice and smooth:) 5 stars for ya:) 5*****Jane

[Bluefroger]

Like your take on this great song! well done!

[jwmdlm07]

is this somekind of exclusive footage cause it sounds and looks old as if this was when he wrote it.? anyway awesome video

[MrPlatypus70]

Mr Prine is an amazing song writer and Bonnie Rait has a beautiful voice ( really good guitar player too). I love both of their versions of this song. Your cover is really great, nice finger picking and very soulful singing. I really enjoyed listening to this!

[MyMoppet52]

Enjoyed your version and this song is very important to me, so that is a great compliment. Good job. Thanks for posting.

[Kevindad123]

Good Job! I love to sing and play me some Prine....got my SUb....

[ski11469]

Great Job! I love the octive change @ 3:03. Well done!

[AWFriday]

I enjoyed this. Thank you.

[SashkaBlack]

I really love your version of the song, it is so beautiful :)

[metalmoomar]

AWwwwwwwwww, pretty!

[inthegardenars]

Great cover!