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.
Someone's always comin' around here, trailin' some new kill
Says, "I've seen your picture on a hundred dollar bill"
What's a game of chance to you, to him is one of real skill
So glad to meet you, Angeles
Pickin' up the ticket shows there's money to be made
Go on, lose the gamble, that's the history of the trade
Did you add up all the cards left to play to zero
And sign up with evil, Angeles?
Don't start me tryin' now
Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
'Cause I'm all over it, Angeles
I can make you satisfied in everything you do
All your secret wishes could right now be coming true
And be forever with my poison arms around you
No one's gonna fool around with us
No one's gonna fool around with us
So glad to meet you, Angeles
Says, "I've seen your picture on a hundred dollar bill"
What's a game of chance to you, to him is one of real skill
So glad to meet you, Angeles
Pickin' up the ticket shows there's money to be made
Go on, lose the gamble, that's the history of the trade
Did you add up all the cards left to play to zero
And sign up with evil, Angeles?
Don't start me tryin' now
Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
'Cause I'm all over it, Angeles
I can make you satisfied in everything you do
All your secret wishes could right now be coming true
And be forever with my poison arms around you
No one's gonna fool around with us
No one's gonna fool around with us
So glad to meet you, Angeles
Lyrics submitted by EnjOy IncUbus
Angeles Lyrics as written by Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
To me he's talking about how moving to Los Angeles and getting signed to dreamworks major label, changed him, It made him lose himself because we all know he felt the music business would crush him. It all changed him and they wouldn't let him stay true to himself. He was sick of the fight and just dealt with it.
Someone's always coming around here trailing some new kill ( the music business looking to find someone to sign and destroy)
Says, "I seen your picture on a hundred dollar bill" ((the label's offering him money and fame to get signed (temptation))
And what's a game of chance to you, to him is one of real skill (the person being naive and willing to take the chance of signing while the music business knowing exactly what to do to trap you they know there skill. they know that they're going to do to you before you can even think, but he takes the chance, not knowing what's in store)
So glad to meet you Angeles (sarcastically referring to Los Angeles)
Picking up the ticket shows there's money to be made Go on and lose the gamble, that's the history of the trade (( Getting signed to a label equals money however there's a catch---you do what they say, you'll always lose the gamble because they have control over who you are, what you do, ect. ))
You add up all the cards left to play to zero And sign up with evil (weighing your options and deciding whether to sign to the label or not. eventually deciding yes and you've signed with something evil)
Don't start me trying now Because I'm all over it Angeles ( he's stick of fighting for himself, he's over it)
I could make you satisfied in everything you do All your "secret wishes" could right now be coming true ( this could be referring to 2 things: the temptation of drugs and what they can do for you/give you a false sense of satisfaction and "secret wishes" whatever Elliott's secret wishes in life were...maybe how drugs let him forget his past or just that by signing to the label they tempt you by telling you how successful you'll be and all the money you'll make)
And be forever with my poison arms around you (addiction to the poison of drugs or the contract, either have a hold on you and you can't break free)
No one's going to fool around with us No one's going to fool around with us (he finds there's no way out)
We all know how unhappy he was when he got signed to dreamworks, He knew they'd crush him. I'm sure he wanted out...