4 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Will The Real Danny Radnor Please Stand? Lyrics
Gnashing teeth where
We once saw only smiles
And claws that draw pain
Where glad hands were extended
Already gone are the people that wander
With hands cupped to 'er ears
Hear brothers that spite them
And see unfriendly faces
And bullets will strike them
But offer their backs while
A pistol lies waiting
There are angels
They are angels
Who see angels
All around them
We once saw only smiles
And claws that draw pain
Where glad hands were extended
Already gone are the people that wander
With hands cupped to 'er ears
Hear brothers that spite them
And see unfriendly faces
And bullets will strike them
But offer their backs while
A pistol lies waiting
They are angels
Who see angels
All around them
Song Info
Submitted by
toadtws On Apr 26, 2002
More The American Analog Set
The Kindness Of Strangers
Hard to Find
Punk As Fuck
Born on the Cusp
The Green Green Grass
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Second line should be: "We once saw only smiles".
For me, this beautiful song is about the good people (the "angels") in this world full of hatred (first 4 lines), who do (or more pessimistic, did - see 5th line) good things for their fellow man, even when they are being hated by others. That's because they see everybody else as good and friendly (last two lines). Naive, or idealistic?
Danny Radnor is the name of a character from the movie "Matewan" (1978), about oppressed mine workers, in which he is a miner and lay preacher. Haven't seen it, but it's possible this song is inspired by the movie, especially because it seems both the song and the movie tell about a violent clash, the Matewan Massacre ("pistol", "bullets", "unfriendly faces").
It only took me a year and two months to get around to fixing that. :-) Thanks, wooki!
this is terrifyingly beautiful
The character of Danny Radnor in "Matewan" is played by the 17 year old Will Oldham. So the reference in the title to the "Real Danny Randnor" must be punning on how Will Oldham took a new pseudonym (Palace, Palace Brothers, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, etc.) for each album.