I am an old woman named after my mother
My old man is another child that's grown old
If dreams were lightning, thunder were desire
This old house would have burnt down a long time ago

Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go

When I was a young girl, well, I had me a cowboy
He weren't much to look at, just a free rambling man
But that was a long time and no matter how I try
The years just flow by like a broken down dam

Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go

There's flies in the kitchen, I can hear 'em there buzzing
And I ain't done nothing since I woke up today
How the hell can a person go to work in the morning
And come home in the evening and have nothing to say?

Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go


Lyrics submitted by Bobo192, edited by aaronboy, akmoon

Angel from Montgomery Lyrics as written by John Prine

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Angel From Montgomery song meanings
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20 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment
    She's a free-spirit at heart who has been trapped by her life. And now it's too late to undo the choices she has made and the freedom she gave up. Such wonderful characterization. I love this song.
    wayupnorthon April 23, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    Sad but true for many people. Life with a person who has nothing to say is lonely and depressing. People do find something to hang on to, some kind of hope, just to make it through the day. One of my favorite songs...Prine with Ronnie Raitt of course.
    Boogson June 13, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    "How the hell can a person go to work in the morning And come home in the evening and have nothing to say." Some of my favorite lines. Embodies that angst I feel about work slicing into our time on this earth.
    scraps33on February 01, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I love how John Prine wrote this song and sings it from a woman's perspective. He does it so naturally that it doesn't seem odd.
    bhoover247on August 23, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I heard it first on the film "Into The Wild" such a great movie. And such a great duet by Chris and Tracy..their voices are awesome. Love Tracy's voice and I will always have Chris view on my life, he is my saviour.
    bear_hug20on November 05, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    John Prine nails it, and so matter of factly but sweetly too. Reminds me of Dylan because he says so much in so little words and it's pure poetry. I have listened to this song so many times, but today it grabbed ahold of me like songs and poetry sometime do.I wept because it is about my life. It is hard to hold on, but I do have hope that he still loves me. And I'm turning 50. I never ever thought I'd end up here. (I'm named after my mother too, and she was at this place in her life when she was my age, but she has a very full life now and my dad got it together. She held on.)
    rosebuddyon August 24, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    "To believe in this living is just a hard way to go. . ." Damn.
    rufustfireflyon October 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song is a text book example of great songwriting. Dave Matthews fans would know this tune done on VH1 storytellers. a great cover.
    MLRLighton October 17, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    everyone should get the duet with john and bonnie raitt, awesome stuff in that one
    Halcyonon December 11, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This is another awesome Prine song. It's very sad and he was the perfect voice for it. I really like it.
    OpinionHeadon August 08, 2005   Link

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