“Angel From Montgomery,” a song soon to be covered by Laurie and myself, and released on all digital platforms along with a music video premiere on American Blues Scene on August 28th, 2020, is more than just a well-loved classic. It’s a poignant narrative woven by the masterful hand of John Prine. But what is the story that lies beneath the surface of this iconic song?
Penned by John Prine, often hailed as the “Mark Twain of American songwriting” for his insightful and storytelling prowess, “Angel From Montgomery” first graced the world in 1971. Atlantic Records released it as part of his self-titled debut album, John Prine. This album wasn’t just a collection of songs; it was a statement. The record’s significance was later cemented with its induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015. Rolling Stone Magazine further lauded its impact, ranking it #68 on their list of the Greatest Country Songs of All Time. Critics and reviewers were immediately captivated by the profound maturity and folksy wisdom emanating from this young singer-songwriter and his deeply human subject matter. Kris Kristofferson, in the album’s liner notes, famously remarked, “[Twenty-four years old and he writes like he’s two hundred and twenty,” while Bob Dylan, in 2009, described Prine’s work as “pure Proustian existentialism… Midwestern mind-trips to the nth degree.” These accolades highlight the early recognition of Prine’s exceptional talent and the lasting power of “Angel From Montgomery”.
Bonnie Raitt’s Enduring Interpretation of “Angel From Montgomery”
While “Angel From Montgomery” was critically acclaimed from its inception, it was Bonnie Raitt’s cover version in 1974 that propelled the song to widespread recognition and cemented its place in the hearts of music lovers. Featured on her album Streetlights, Raitt’s rendition resonated deeply with audiences, bringing a new dimension to the already powerful song. Raitt herself acknowledged the profound impact of “Angel From Montgomery” on her career and her fans. In a 2000 interview, she stated, “I think ‘Angel from Montgomery’ probably has meant more to my fans and my body of work than any other song, and it will historically be considered one of the most important ones I’ve ever recorded.” She eloquently captured the song’s essence, adding, “It’s just such a tender way of expressing that sentiment of longing…without being maudlin or obvious. It has all the different shadings of love and regret and longing. It’s a perfect expression from [a] wonderful genius.” Raitt’s interpretation not only honored Prine’s songwriting but also amplified the song’s emotional resonance, solidifying its status as a timeless classic.
John Prine: From Mailman to Music Legend
To truly understand “Angel From Montgomery,” it’s essential to delve into the background of its creator, John Prine. Born on October 10, 1946, in Maywood, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Prine’s roots were originally in Paradise, Kentucky. His parents had moved north to escape the perilous coal mining industry, a theme that would later surface in his songwriting. Music entered Prine’s life early; at the age of 12, he began learning guitar from his older brother Dave. He further honed his skills at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, immersing himself in the rich tradition of folk and storytelling. After graduating high school in 1965 and a stint as a mailman, Prine served in the U.S. Army in West Germany before returning to his mail route in Chicago in the late 1960s. It was during this time that his hobby of songwriting and singing transformed into a burgeoning career as a club performer. Emerging from Chicago’s vibrant folk revival scene, Prine credits two influential figures with discovering him: film critic Roger Ebert and singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson. This journey from mailman to celebrated musician underscores Prine’s grounded perspective and his ability to connect with everyday experiences, which are deeply reflected in “Angel From Montgomery” and his wider body of work.
Thematic Depths of “Angel From Montgomery”
John Prine’s debut album is a tapestry of narratives focusing on the lives of the overlooked and the vulnerable. It includes songs like “Sam Stone,” a stark portrayal of a morphine-addicted veteran, and “Paradise,” a poignant reflection on his father’s Kentucky hometown ravaged by coal mining. Yet, amongst these powerful compositions, “Angel From Montgomery” has risen to become Prine’s signature song, widely covered and deeply cherished.
The genesis of “Angel From Montgomery” came from a suggestion by Prine’s friend, Eddie Holstein, to write “another song about old people,” referencing Prine’s earlier work, “Hello In There,” which sympathetically depicted lonely elderly individuals. While Prine felt he had explored that theme, the idea of a song about a middle-aged woman feeling prematurely aged took root. He described his creative process, stating, “I had this really vivid picture of this woman standing over the sink 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 and take her away from all this.” This image became the emotional core of the song. Prine elaborated on his songwriting technique, explaining, “If you come up with a strong enough character, you can get a really vivid insight into the character that you’ve invented. You let the character write the song. You just dictate from then on.” This method of character-driven songwriting allowed Prine to tap into universal feelings of longing and resignation, making “Angel From Montgomery” resonate with a vast audience.
Setting the Scene: Montgomery and Hank Williams
The song’s setting in Montgomery, Alabama, wasn’t accidental. While Prine admitted he wasn’t entirely sure of his reasoning, he believes it was a nod to one of his musical idols, Hank Williams, who hailed from Montgomery. This connection to a country music icon subtly underscores the song’s themes of longing and escape, perhaps mirroring the desires for a different life often found in classic country narratives.
Prine’s Songwriting Philosophy: Less is More
John Prine often described his songwriting approach with remarkable humility and a touch of mystique. He famously stated, “(Song)Writing is about a piece of paper, and leaving out what’s not supposed to be there…as long as I’ve been writing, I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m always starting out brand new. I couldn’t say to anybody: ‘This is what you do to write a song.’ I don’t know where they come from and I don’t know where they don’t come from….” This philosophy of “leaving out what’s not supposed to be there” speaks to the evocative power of suggestion in his lyrics. By focusing on essential details and emotional honesty, Prine allowed listeners to deeply connect with his songs, filling in the blanks with their own experiences and interpretations.
Prine’s influence extends to contemporary Americana artists like Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and Tom Snider, who see him as a guiding light. Tom Snider aptly described Prine’s music as having layers of meaning that unfold over time: “His music is like Huckleberry Finn. You get it, then you listen to it five years later and you go, ‘I get it!’ And then 10 years later you go, ‘Now I get it’.” This enduring relevance is a testament to the depth and timelessness of Prine’s songwriting, particularly evident in “Angel From Montgomery.”
Addressing the perspective of singing as a female character, Prine responded to questions about writing a woman’s song in the first person with characteristic simplicity: “I got asked years later lots of times how I felt I could get away with writing a woman’s song first-person. And that never occurred to me, because I already considered myself a writer. And writers are any gender you want. You write from the character and how can you go wrong?” This statement underscores his commitment to character-driven storytelling, transcending gender boundaries to capture universal human emotions.
The Lasting Impact of “Angel From Montgomery”
Reflecting on the success of “Angel From Montgomery,” Prine recounted seeing a poster that perfectly captured the song’s essence. “They did a book of the famous poster people here in Nashville… And the poster on the cover is a poster of a rodeo, a guy with a bunking bronco and it’s got the words to the beginning of ‘Angel from Montgomery’ on it. And it’s a really good looking poster. I asked them to give me a copy of it. It looked very much like whatever I had in mind when I wrote it.” This visual connection to rodeo imagery, with its themes of wildness and longing for freedom, resonates deeply with the song’s core emotions.
Prine believed in the power of listener participation in songwriting. In an interview, he explained, “I think the more the listener can contribute to the song, the better; the more they become part of the song, and they fill in the blanks. Rather than tell them everything, you save your details for things that exist. Like what color the ashtray is. How far away the doorway was. So when you’re talking about intangible things, like emotions, the listener can fill in the blanks and you just draw the foundation.” This philosophy highlights his respect for the audience’s emotional intelligence and their ability to connect with the song on a personal level.
Despite his eventual acclaim, Prine confessed to initial anxieties about sharing his deeply personal songs. “I was very nervous about singing this and the other songs in public for the first time. Because I thought that they would come across as too detailed, too amateurish. Because I hadn’t heard anybody being that detailed. And I thought there must be a reason for that. I must not be doing it the right way, whatever the right way is.” His initial performance experiences were also nerve-wracking: “First time I played, the crowd just sat there. They didn’t even applaud, they just looked at me. I thought, ‘Uh oh.’ [Laughs] I thought, ‘This is pretty bad.’ I started shuffling my feet and looking around. And then they started applauding and it was a really great feeling. It was like I found out all of a sudden that I could communicate. That I could communicate really deep feelings and emotions. And to find that out all at once was amazing.” This anecdote reveals Prine’s vulnerability and his eventual realization of the profound connection his music could forge with audiences.
“Angel From Montgomery,” through its poignant lyrics and evocative melody, continues to touch hearts and inspire musicians. We are excited to share our own rendition of this timeless classic.
Check out our video and cover of Angel From Montgomery! https://www.raveiskole.com/angel-from-montgomery Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tkIISkCjhgE
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