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Harps and Angels Lyrics

Hasn't anybody seen me lately
I'll tell you why
Hasn't anybody seen me lately
I'll tell you why
I caught something that made me so sick
That I thought I would die
And I almost did too

First my knees began to tremble
My heart began to pound
First my knees began to tremble
My heart began to pound
It was arrhythmic and out of tune
I lost my equilibrium
And fell face down upon the ground

As I lay there on that cold pavement
A tear ran down my face
'Cause I thought I was dying
You boys know I'm not a religious man
But I sent a prayer out just in case
You never know
Lo and behold almost immediately
I had reason to believe my prayer had been heard in a very special place
'Cause I heard this sound

Ooooh
Yes
Ooooh
Yes, it was harps and angels
Harps and angels coming near
I was too sick to roll over and see them
But I could hear them singing ever so beautifully in my ear

Then the sound began to subside
And they sounded like background singers
And a voice came down fromt he heavens above
It was a voice full of anger from the Old Testament
And a voice full of love from the New One
And the street lit up like it was the middle of the day
And I lay there quiet and listened to what that voice had to say

He said, "You ain't been a good man
You ain't been a bad man
But you've been pretty bad
Lucky for you this ain't your time
Someone very dear to me has made another clerical error
And we're here on a bit of a wild goose chase
But I want to tell you a few things
That'll hold you in good stead when it is your time
So you better listen close
I'm only going to say this once

When they lay you on the table
Better keep your business clean
'Fore they lay you on the table
Better keep your business clean
Don't want no back stabbing, ass grabbing
You know exactly what I mean
Alright girls - we're outta here"

Ooooh

"Encore. Encore."
Ooooh
(He spoke French)
"Tres bien
Encore"
And off they went into the night

Almost immediately I felt better
And I come round to see you boys
'Cause you know we ain't living right
And while it was fresh
I wanted to tell you what he told me

He said, "When they lay you on the table
Better keep your business clean
When they lay you on the table
Better keep your business clean
Else there won't be no harps and angels coming for you
I'll be trombones, kettle drums, pitchforks, and tambourines"

Sing it like they did for me one time
Ooooh - yes
Ooooh - beautiful
Wish I spoke French

So actually the main thing about this story is for me
There really is an afterlife
And I hope to see all of you there

Let's go get a drink
1 Meaning

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Cover art for Harps and Angels lyrics by Randy Newman

Like so many of Randy Newman's darker songs, almost no other singer covers them... Any attempt to soften the original song would result in saccharine. And as for trying to one-up Randy's biting lyrics and viciously snarky delivery... well, good luck with that! Joe Cocker came close with his loud, gruff version of "Pants," but it was still 'kindler & gentler.'

Of course, Randy's personal fortune and reputation is based on his instrumental work as a soundtrack composer. His melodies are as rich & satisfying as his lyrics can be acid & edgy.

In "Harps & Angels," the conveniently repentant sinner is dripping with situational ethics and irony, all captured in Newman's multilayered, sneering intonations. The voice of a Master Bastard, the guy you never should turn your back on.

In real life, I think Randy Newman has always had a very nasty brat inside him, fueling his immense creative engine. I don't think he would deny that. How could he?

 
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