The Shadows of the Angel´s Wings

 

Written by John Stewart

 

‘The Shadows of the Angel´s Wings’ is on “Escape to Arizona”, a Homecoming Records cassette, 1993, hopefully soon to be re-released as a CD, and on “Airdream Believer – A Retrospective”, Shanachie, 1995 (the latter version also on the great compilation double CD Gold, Wrasse Records, 2000).  You´ll find both versions below. 

In the “Airdream Believer” booklet, John writes: “This song is a true story that fell together very quickly after seeing the sign on Route 20, Buckingham, Virginia. ...” 

This is a great song – great music, great words, and strangely soothing, even for a sceptic like me.  One of those songs I don´t want to stop playing once I have begun, and it´s not too difficult, either.

 

Good picking patterns for this song:

 

E--R--------------------

B-------------M--------

G-------I------------I---

D------------------------

A------------------------

E--T---------------------

 

or

 

E--R----------R---------

B--------------------M--

G-------I----------------

D------------------------

A------------------------

E--T---------------------

 

(T=thumb, R= ring finger, I= index finger, M= middle finger  -- of course the bass note

not always on low E-string)

 

 

“Escape to Arizona” version

 

(G) (D/F#) (Em) (D) (G) (D/F#) (Em) (D)

 

(G)Saw some (D/F#)words on a (Em)highway sign, (G)

(C) They (G)hit me in the (D)chest,

(G) That seem to (D/F#)say that when (Em)things go (G)wrong,

(C) That they (G)happen for the (D)best.

(G) So I (D/F#)grabbed a piece of (Em)paper, (G)

(C) For the (G)words just seemed to (D)sing:

(C) Those aren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,(G)

They're the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings.

 

(G)I re(D/F#)call when (Em)I was just a (G)boy and my brother and I,

(C) Well we'd (G)listen through the (D)walls,

(G) And heard our (D/F#)father (Em)tell our Ma, (G) he'd say,

(C) Those kids are (G)no good(D)all.

(G) He said (D/F#)we were less than (Em)zero, (G)

(C) Ah, but it (G)didn't mean a (D)thing.

For (C)those weren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,(G)

They were the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings.

For (C)those weren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,(G)

They were the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings.

 

(G) Now I'm (D/F#)grown, I've got (Em)children of my own (G)

(C) And I'm (G)careful what I (D)say,

(G) For I (D/F#)know the power that (Em)words can have,(G)

(C) Words you (G)can not take a(D)way.

(G) So what I (D/F#)try to (Em)tell them (G)

(C) Is the secret (G)of the (D)kings,

That (C)those aren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,(G)

They're the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings,

(C)Those aren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,(G)

They're the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings.

 

Put it in your (C)pocket, (C/B)yeah, (Am)

Oh, (D)keep it with your(G)things,(D) (G) (D)

Put it where their(C)words seep (G/B)in your (D/A)soul, (G)

The (C)secret of the (G)Angel's (D)wings.

 

(G) Times are (D/F#)hard and (Em)thing are tough,(G)

(C) And (G)money's getting (D)thin,

(G)And it (D/F#)seems like there is (Em)no way out of here,(G)

(C) There (G)is no way to (D)win.

(G) Then I (D/F#)saw that piece of (Em)paper (G)

(C) In the (G)dirt by the front porch (D)swing,

Saying, (C)’Those aren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,’(G)

It said, (C)’Those aren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,’(G)

It said, (C)’Those aren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no, (G)

They're the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings.’(hold)

Of the Angel’s (G)wings, (D) (C)

Of the (D)Angel’s (G)wings, (D) (C)

Of the (D)Angel’s (G)wings, (D) (C)

Of the (D)Angel’s (G)wings, (D) (C) (D)

(G) (D) (C) (D) (G) (D) (C) (D) (G) (D) (C) (D) (G)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Art Faller, Charlie Woodward & janhauenstein@gmx.de

 

 

“Airdream Believer” version 

 

(G) (G/B) (C) (D) (G) (G/B) (C) (D) (G) (G/B) (C) (D) (G) (G/B) (C) (D)

 

(G)Saw some (D/F#)words on a (Em)highway sign, (G)

(C) They (G)hit me in the (D)chest,

(G) Well, they seemed to (D/F#)say that when (Em)things go (G)wrong,

(C) That they (G)happen for the (D)best.

(G) So I (D/F#)grabbed a piece of (Em)paper, (G)

(C) For those (G)words just seemed to (D)sing:

(C) That those aren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,(G)

They're the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings. (hold)

 

(G)I re(D/F#)call when (Em)I was just a boy (G)

(C) And (G)on my way to (D)school,

(G) Living on the (D/F#)streets of the (Em)neighborhood, (G)yeah,

(C) Where the (G)words were sharp and (D)cruel.

(G )And I’m (D/F#)seeing things more (Em)clearly now (G)

(C) And those (G)words don’t mean a (D)thing,

For (C)those weren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,(G)

They were the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings.

Yeah, (C)those weren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,(G)

They were the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings. (hold)

 

(G) And now I'm (D/F#)grown, I've got (Em)children of my own (G)

(C) And I'm (G)careful what I (D)say,

(G) For I (D/F#)know the power that (Em)words can have,(G)

(C) Words you (G)can not take a(D)way.

(G) So what I (D/F#)try to (Em)tell them (G)

(C) Is the secret (G)of the (D)kings,

That (C)those aren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,(G)

They're the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings,

(C)That those aren't (G)clouds on the (C)horizon, no,(G)

They're the (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings. (hold)

 

Put it in your (C)pocket, (C/B)yeah, (Am)

Oh, (D)keep it with your(G)things,(D) (G) (D)

Put it where their(C)words seep (G/B)in your (D/A)soul, (G)

The (C)secret of the (G)Angel's (D)wings. (hold)

 

(G) Times are (D/F#)hard and (Em)thing are tough,(G)

(C) And (G)money's getting (D)thin,

(G)And it (D/F#)seems like there is (Em)no way out of here,(G)

(C) Like there (G)is no way to (D)win.

(G) Then I (D/F#)saw that piece of (Em)paper (G)

In the (C)dirt by the (G)front porch (D)swing,

It said, (C)’Those aren't (G)clouds on the ho(D)rizon, no,’(G)

It said, (C)’Those aren't (G)clouds on the ho(D)rizon, no,’(G)

It said, (C)’Those aren't (G)clouds on the ho(D)rizon, no, (G)

The (C)shadows of the (G)Angel's (D)wings.’(hold)

Of the Angel’s (G)wings, (G/B) (C)

Of the (D)Angel’s (G)wings, (G/B) (C)

Of the (D)Angel’s (G)wings, (G/B) (C)

(D)Shadows of the Angel’s (G)wings, (G/B) (C)

(D)Shadows of the Angel’s (G)wings, (G/B) (C)

Of the (D)Angel’s (G)wings, (G/B) (C) (D)

(G) (G/B) (C) (D) (G) (G/B) (C) (D) (G) (G/B) (C) (D)

(G) (G/B) (C) (D) (G) (G/B) (C) (D) (G)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Art Faller, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Charlie Woodward

 

February 2005