To me this is a sad but hopeful song. This is my lyric interpretation of Angel by Sarah McLachlan

“I see images of someone who is insecure, may be a struggling singer, writer, or actress who is waiting for a second chance, a break, the endless auditions, living in a cheap hotel or motel room in Los Angeles, she is facing jealous people, sharks and thieves who want to steal her original songs, vultures who are waiting to feed on her beauty and creativity, and take her only belongings, people who play politics, stabbing her in the back, she needs a distraction and release from all the stress and pressure of breaking into Hollywood, Penguin Random House, or Universal Music, with people lying to her and using her, yet she believes she can make it in the madness of Hotel California where anyone can check in anytime she likes but can never leave, but madness leads to sadness as she kneels down and pray, and finally one day she dies in a car accident, her Guardian Angel pulls her Soul from the wreckage, and into the arms of the Angel, may you Rest In Peace. Or was it a silent reverie?”

Lyric interpretation:  Robert Chaen

Published: 14th April 2020.
Updated: 15th April 2020.

Watch live video Angel with Sarah McLachlan & Pink : https://tinyurl.com/r27kody

Angel
by Sarah McLachlan

Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay

There’s always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it’s hard at the end of the day

I need some distraction
Oh, beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins

Let me be empty
Oh, and weightless, and maybe
I’ll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold, hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There’s vultures and thieves at your back

The storm keeps on twisting
Keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack

It don’t make no difference
Escaping one last time
It’s easier to believe in this sweet madness
Oh, this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold, hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
Songwriters: Christopher A. Stewart / James Quenton Wright / Mariah Carey

Angel lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC