Angel from Montgomery chords

by Bonnie Raitt
  • Angel from Montgomery was written by American country-folk music singer-songwriter John Prine - released on his self-titles album on January 1, 1971.
  • Featured Artist: Bonnie Raitt - American blues singer and guitarist.
  • Recorded: Summer, 1974
  • Released: September 1974
  • Album: Streetlights
  • Music: E major in 4/4 time at ~120 bpm
  • Chords: E, A, A7, B, B7, D
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords   O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings   R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open   X: Don't play string    B: Bass Note
E Major A Major A7 B Major B Major barre B7 D Major
E Major A Major A7 B Major B Major barre B7 D Major

Angel from Montgomery

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
             
               E      A      A     E       A       A
Intro: 4/4 ||: 1&2&3& 4& |       | 1&2 &3& 4& |        :||

 E                 A     E                A
1. I am an old wom-an      named after my moth-er.
 E                 A       B                  E
   My old man is a-no-ther child that's grown old.
                  A          E                       A
   If dreams were thun-der     and light-ning was de-sire
 E                         A            B           E
   This old house would've burnt down a long time a-go.
 
 
      E            D           A               E
Chorus: Make me an an-gel that flies from Mont-gom-ery.
      E           D             A         E
        Make me a pos-ter of an old ro-de-o.
      E              D              A          E
        Just give me one thing that I can hold on to.
      E                     A                 B               E 
        To be-lieve in this liv-ing is just a   hard way to | go  |
		
          E      A      A     E       A      A
        | 1&2&3& 4& |       | 1&2 &3& 4& |       |
 

 E                    A     E                        A
2. When I was a young girl    well I had me a cow-boy,
 E                         A          B              E
   He weren't much to look at, just a free ramb-lin' man.
                  A7         E                A
   But that was a long time,   and no mat-ter how I try,
 E                  A              B            E
   Those years just flow by like a bro-ken-down dam.
   
 
      E            D           A               E
Chorus: Make me an an-gel that flies from Mont-gom-ery.
      E           D             A         E
        Make me a pos-ter of an old ro-de-o.
      E              D              A          E
        Just give me one thing that I can hold on to.
      E                     A                 B              E
        To be-lieve in this liv-ing is just a   hard way to (go)
		                                                     
               E      A      A     E       A       A
           ||: 1&2&3& 4& |       | 1&2 &3& 4& |        :||	
              (go) 
		 
 E                      A         E                      A
3. There's flies in the kit-chen,   I can hear all their buzz-in'
 E                       A           B7            E
   And I ain't done noth-in' since I woke up to-day.
 E                    A       E                   A
   How the hell can a per-son   go to work in the morn-ing
 E                      A                 B           E
   And come home in the eve-nin' and have noth-in' to say?
   
 
      E            D           A               E
Chorus: Make me an an-gel that flies from Mont-gom-ery.
      E           D             A         E
        Make me a pos-ter of an old ro-de-o.
      E              D              A          E
        Just give me one thing that I can hold on to.
      E                     A                 B             E 
        To be-lieve in this liv-ing is just a   hard way to go		
      E                     A                 B             E 
        To be-lieve in this liv-ing is just a   hard way to go...


Song Facts

  • The song was written by John Prine and released on his self-titled debut album in 1971.
  • The song is about a middle-aged woman from Montgomery, Alabama, who feels trapped in her life and longs for something more.
  • The song was inspired by a conversation that Prine had with his friend, Eddie Holstein. Holstein told Prine about a woman he knew who was feeling trapped in her life. Prine was struck by the woman's story and decided to write a song about it.
  • The song has been covered by many artists, including Bonnie Raitt (featured), Carly Simon, John Denver, Alison Krauss, Wynonna Judd, and Holly Williams.
  • The song makes an appearance in Film and TV: Into the Wild, Courage Under Fire, and Ozark.
  • The song is considered a classic of American folk music.
  • The song is ultimately a song about hope. The song suggests that even when life is difficult, there is always hope for a better future.
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