THE ANGEL

Album's version

The angel rides with hunch-backed children, poison oozing from his engine
Wieldin' love as a lethal weapon, on his way to hubcap heaven
Baseball cards poked in his spokes, his boots in oil he's patiently soaked
The roadside attendant nervously jokes as the angel's tires strokes his precious pavement.

The interstate's choked with nomadic hordes
in Volkswagen vans with full running boards dragging great anchors
Followin' dead-end signs into the sores
The angel rides by humpin' his hunk metal whore

Madison Avenue's claim to fame in a trainer bra with eyes like rain
She rubs against the weather-beaten frame and asks the angel for his name
Off in the distance the marble dome
reflects across the flatlands with a naked feel off into parts unknown
The woman strokes his polished chrome and lies beside the angel's bones.

Published on Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ. Bruce said he would never have played it live, but.... he performed it during The Ghost Of Tom Joad tour on 22 Apr 1996 at the Royal Albert Hall, London. These lyrics refer to the version published on Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ and the one performed live. Check also the outtake version lyrics.

Like MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS, THE ANGEL has been a source of much criticism. Never played live until The Ghost Of Tom Joad tour, its been seen as a clumsy attempt to glorify the plight of motorcycle gangs, which are more noted for terror and violence than a romantic lifestyle as depicted by Bruce. If reality can be ignored for a few minutes, then the strong imagery evident in this track makes it well worth giving another chance.

Appeared on a single once in 1973 as B-side to BLINDED BY THE LIGHT.