In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
She wasn't perfect
She had some trips of her own
He wasn't worried
At least he wasn't alone (Too late)
He sleeps with angels (Too soon)
He's always on someone's mind
He sleeps with angels (Too late)
He sleeps with angels (Too soon)
She was a teen queen
She saw the dark side of life
She made things happen
But when he did it that night
She ran up phone bills
She moved around from town to town (Too late)
He sleeps with angels (Too soon)
He's always on someone's mindHe sleeps with angels
He sleeps with angels
She had some trips of her own
He wasn't worried
At least he wasn't alone (Too late)
He sleeps with angels (Too soon)
He's always on someone's mind
He sleeps with angels (Too late)
He sleeps with angels (Too soon)
She was a teen queen
She saw the dark side of life
She made things happen
But when he did it that night
She ran up phone bills
She moved around from town to town (Too late)
He sleeps with angels (Too soon)
He's always on someone's mindHe sleeps with angels
He sleeps with angels
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
Sleeps with Angels Lyrics as written by Neil Young
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
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I think the song is pretty much just about the life of courtney and kurt "she saw the dark side of life" ... "he's always on someone's mind" meaning he'll never be forgotten.. and we always think about him. R.I.P Kurt.
Kurt quoted Neil in his suicide note "It's better to burn out than fade away"... this affected Neil, who has even noted Kurt as one of HIS influences, even though Neil was making music since before kurt was born... Anyways he felt bad that kurt took his lyrics so deeply and decided to write a song about him, and a sort of a tribute album
Very much about Kurt. The opening lines talk about Courtney Love's impact on Kurt. "She wasn't perfect/She had some trips of her own/He wasn't worried/At least he wasn't alone/Too late/He sleeps with angels/Too soon" Saying Courtney wasn't the trophy wife, and had many troubles, but she completed Kurt and now he had someone to be with him through his journey that understood him. And yes, he is now with the Angels, very much too soon. Rest in Peace Kurt.
Cobain.
That's the first thing I think of when I hear this song. The rugged distortion sound is the next.
Does anyone know how the lyrics relate to Cobain?
Agree with the people above.
A fantastic song by the amazing Neil Young. Cobain was greatly influenced by Neil Young and Nirvana is one of Neil's fav bands.
When I read it I think about how kurt and courtney did drugs which brought them to the dark side of life and when she tried to help it was too late.