Acappella is an all-male Contemporary Christian vocal group that was founde… Read Full Bio ↴Acappella is an all-male Contemporary Christian vocal group that was founded in 1982 by Keith Lancaster, who has variously played the role of singer, songwriter, and producer throughout the group's history. Acappella is by far the most popular musical group to have come out of the Churches of Christ in the U.S. They are in large part responsible for inspiring an entire culture of a cappella musical performance in the Church of Christ. Churches of Christ members strive to worship as first century Christians worshiped, and believe one should sing 'making melody in your heart' (Eph. 5:19), instead of using musical instruments in worship. The song "Acappella" from 1986's Conquerors was the first to achieve widespread popularity within the church of Christ (it could almost be called a 'hit') and the 1988 album Sweet Fellowship has become their all-time best seller. AVB's breakout Song in My Soul was released almost concurrently, and the number of like-minded a cappella vocal groups within the church of Christ grew almost exponentially after these two albums. Acappella experienced their first mainstream success outside the church of Christ with 1993's Set Me Free. This album also had a song licensed for use in a Sony Camcorder Super Bowl commercial (with the refrain "They are more precious than gold").

One Ragged Angel
Acappella Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He was standin' on the corner with a will-work-for-food sign
He said brother can you spare me a thin dime
I promise I'll make it worth all of your time (your time)
I thought man he was drunk outta his mind
My coin hit his cup and as I turned to go (and as I turned)
He told me things about my life that no one could know (he could not know, he's been hearin')
Said I got the message from the Man upstairs
He's been hearing your prayers

Chorus:
Nah nah nah nah nah
It doesn't matter where the answer's from
Long as you're listening when it comes (when it comes, when it comes your way)
'Cause in an instant years of doubt will roll away (years of doubt they'll roll away)
By one ragged angel one dime (one dime) one day

Come On
nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah (x2)

Even now tellin' you it makes no sense
I turned around and I don't know where he went
But from that day I have never had one doubt (I have never had a doubt)
The toughest times are all gonna work out

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:
It might be a song on the radio
A line from your favorite TV show
A friend's advice or a stranger's voice
When you're meant to hear it you'll have no choice (no choice, no choice)

Come on

Repeat Chorus

Come on
Nah nah nah nah nah
In a minute, in an instant
He could change your life
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Sing the song, sing a song

Scriptural Reference:

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'" Matthew 25:41-45

Overall Meaning

The song "One Ragged Angel" by Acappella tells the story of a man standing on the corner with a "will-work-for-food" sign, who asks for help from a passerby. The passerby is initially skeptical, thinking the man is drunk. However, he gives him a thin dime, and the man tells him things about his life that he couldn't have possibly known. The man explains that he's been given a message from God and has been hearing his prayers. The chorus repeats the idea that it doesn't matter where the answer comes from, as long as you're listening when it arrives because years of doubt will disappear "by one ragged angel, one dime, one day."

The bridge provides some examples of where people might hear messages that change their lives, like a song or a TV show, or even from a stranger. The song references a scripture from Matthew 25:41-45, where people are judged on how they treated the least of these. The song argues that it's essential to listen to those in need because they may have a message from God, just like the one the man had about the passerby's life.

Line by Line Meaning

He was standin' on the corner with a will-work-for-food sign
He was begging for food and money by holding a sign at the corner of the street.

He said brother can you spare me a thin dime
He requested for some money from the passerby.

I promise I'll make it worth all of your time (your time)
He promised to make the time of the passerby worth it if they gave him some money.

I thought man he was drunk outta his mind
The artist initially thought that he was drunk due to his beggarly state.

My coin hit his cup and as I turned to go (and as I turned)
As the artist gave him some money and was about to leave, he suddenly turned around.

He told me things about my life that no one could know (he could not know, he's been hearin')
The beggar told the singer events of his life that he could not have known, implying that he'd been hearing information from a higher power.

Said I got the message from the Man upstairs
The beggar told the singer he received this information from God.

He's been hearing your prayers
God hears the prayers of individuals.

Nah nah nah nah nah
Interjection

It doesn't matter where the answer's from
It doesn't matter the source of the answer to your prayers.

Long as you're listening when it comes (when it comes, when it comes your way)
Be attentive when the answer to your prayer is revealed.

'Cause in an instant years of doubt will roll away (years of doubt they'll roll away)
When the answer comes, all doubts will disappear instantly.

By one ragged angel one dime (one dime) one day
The encounter with the beggar was a divine connection, and with just a small amount given, faith would be restored.

Even now tellin' you it makes no sense
The singer understands that the encounter makes no logical sense.

I turned around and I don't know where he went
After the encounter, the beggar vanished without a trace.

But from that day I have never had one doubt (I have never had a doubt)
The artist was left with a renewed assurance in their faith.

The toughest times are all gonna work out
Difficult situations will be resolved positively.

It might be a song on the radio
The solution to a prayer can come from various sources.

A line from your favorite TV show
God can answer your prayers through various means, like a favorite TV show.

A friend's advice or a stranger's voice
Advice from a friend or unknown individual could be an answer to your prayer.

When you're meant to hear it you'll have no choice (no choice, no choice)
When God wants you to hear the answer, you won't have a choice.

Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah (x2)
Interjection

In a minute, in an instant
An answer can come in a brief moment.

He could change your life
A divine intervention can bring about an immense change in one's life.

Sing the song, sing a song
Interjection