I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
High above the city square
Globes of light float in mid-air
Higher still, against the night
Clockwork angels bathed in light
You promise every treasure, to the foolish and the wise
Goddesses of mystery, spirits in disguise
Every pleasure, we bow and close our eyes
Oh, clockwork angels promise every prize
Clockwork angels, spread their arms and sing
Synchronized and graceful, they move like living things
Goddesses of Light, of Sea and Sky and Land
Clockwork angels, the people raise their hands
As if to fly
As if to fly
All around the city square
Power shimmers in the air
People gazing up with love
To those angels high above
Celestial machinery move through your commands
Goddesses of mystery, so delicate and so grand
Moved to worship, we bow and close our eyes
Oh, clockwork angels promise every prize
Clockwork angels, spread their arms and sing
Synchronized and graceful, they move like living things
Goddesses of Light, of Sea and Sky and Land
Clockwork angels, the people raise their hands
As if to fly
As if to fly
Lean not upon your own understanding
Ignorance is well and truly blessed
Trust in perfect love, and perfect planning
Everything will turn out for the best
And everything will turn out for the best
Stars aglow like scattered sparks
Span the sky in clockwork arcs
Hint at more than we can see
Spiritual machinery
Clockwork angels, spread their arms and sing
Synchronized and graceful, they move like living things
Goddesses of Light, of Sea and Sky and Land
Clockwork angels, the people raise their hands
Clockwork angels, spread their arms and sing
Synchronized and graceful, they move like living things
Goddesses of Light, of Sea and Sky and Land
Clockwork angels, the people raise their hands
As if to fly
(What do you lack?)
Globes of light float in mid-air
Higher still, against the night
Clockwork angels bathed in light
You promise every treasure, to the foolish and the wise
Goddesses of mystery, spirits in disguise
Every pleasure, we bow and close our eyes
Oh, clockwork angels promise every prize
Clockwork angels, spread their arms and sing
Synchronized and graceful, they move like living things
Goddesses of Light, of Sea and Sky and Land
Clockwork angels, the people raise their hands
As if to fly
As if to fly
All around the city square
Power shimmers in the air
People gazing up with love
To those angels high above
Celestial machinery move through your commands
Goddesses of mystery, so delicate and so grand
Moved to worship, we bow and close our eyes
Oh, clockwork angels promise every prize
Clockwork angels, spread their arms and sing
Synchronized and graceful, they move like living things
Goddesses of Light, of Sea and Sky and Land
Clockwork angels, the people raise their hands
As if to fly
As if to fly
Lean not upon your own understanding
Ignorance is well and truly blessed
Trust in perfect love, and perfect planning
Everything will turn out for the best
And everything will turn out for the best
Stars aglow like scattered sparks
Span the sky in clockwork arcs
Hint at more than we can see
Spiritual machinery
Clockwork angels, spread their arms and sing
Synchronized and graceful, they move like living things
Goddesses of Light, of Sea and Sky and Land
Clockwork angels, the people raise their hands
Clockwork angels, spread their arms and sing
Synchronized and graceful, they move like living things
Goddesses of Light, of Sea and Sky and Land
Clockwork angels, the people raise their hands
As if to fly
(What do you lack?)
Lyrics submitted by blood is thin
Clockwork Angels Lyrics as written by Geddy Lee Alex Lifeson
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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As another Christian I wanted to say that I lost a lot of interest in the band after becoming a Christian - to the point where I stopped listening altogether. I know I know, a bit of an overreaction. But that was just for a time, out of my own overzealous approach to things. These days I evalutae music on a song-by-song basis. I don't see anything outside blatantly anti-Christian here - but I do feel Neil might be giving a jab with the "trust not in your own understanding" part. There was a period in my life when I didn't believe, as I do now, and remember what it was like. I don't hate myself thinking back to that, and I certainly don't hate Neil either. He's on a search and no doubt has a lot of scars and pain he's working through. There's even characters in the bible who have vented their frustration towards God. In the song "The Stars Look Down" I really feel Neil does know God exists - otherwise why would he spend so much time and songs focused on Him. There's been people far more against Christians in the past, who have done a complete turn around later in life. Neil's story is far from over. As for the story of this particular song. The "angels" in this for me are basically false idols offering false hope. So I relate to the song that way - agreeing that there's a lot of false idols setup which is nothing more than human religion. There's a lot of that going on in groups thumping the bible (sects, cults) which have given genuine believers in Christ a bad name. I feel a lot of frustration and anger when I see how these groups hurt people. So I can to some degree relate to Neil this way. So that's how I can listen to this song, interpreting it that way. Another reason why I do so, is because of the other song "Carnies" where "sometimes the angels punish us by answering our prayers" which shows that these were indeed false idols, offering false hope. Neil seems to view every religion that way. For all but one, he's actually correct. He's simply got the Christian faith thrown out with the bathwater. That's what I believe. You're welcome to believe whatever you want :-)
@jonathanvd bro just proved the song right.... ????