Bonnie Raitt Brings A Southern Rock Feel To “Angel From Montgomery,” And It’s Amazing

A New Twist On A Country Classic

It’s no secret that Bonnie Raitt’s got one of the most powerful voices in music, earning respect throughout the music industry for hits like ‘Something To Talk About’ and ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me,’ but the song that defined her as a major player was her 1974 rendition of ‘Angel From Montgomery’. Written by country singer John Prine in 1971, Raitt covered it for her 1974 album Streetlights, giving it an amazing soulful, southern rock twist.

This performance of ‘Angel From Montgomery’ from the same year features Raitt at only 25 years old – freckle faced and beautiful and with a massive voice destined for great things, and it’s absolutely stunning.

Fun Fact: Bonnie says that what gave her the courage to admit her alcohol problem and stop drinking was seeing that her friend Stevie Ray Vaughan was an even better musician when sober.

‘Angel From Montgomery’ is one of the best vocal performances we’ve ever seen from Bonnie; if this wasn’t the performance that catapulted her to superstardom, it definitely should have been. Listening to her more recent material, it’s easy to forget that Bonnie’s got some strong southern rock and blues roots, and it’s great to know that she’s definitely not afraid to use them!

+ Angel From Montgomery lyrics +

I am an old woman named after my mother
My old man is another child that’s grown old
If dreams were lightning thunder was desire
This old house would have burnt down a long time ago

Make me an angel that flies from Montgom’ry
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go

When I was a young girl well, I had me a cowboy
He weren’t much to look at, just free rambling man
But that was a long time and no matter how I try
The years just flow by like a broken down dam.

Make me an angel that flies from Montgom’ry
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go

There’s flies in the kitchen I can hear ’em there buzzing
And I ain’t done nothing since I woke up today.
How the hell can a person go to work in the morning
And come home in the evening and have nothing to say.

Make me an angel that flies from Montgom’ry
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go