When I was 13 years old, my dad was ‘called’ to be a missionary in Honduras… Read Full Bio ↴When I was 13 years old, my dad was ‘called’ to be a missionary in Honduras. As a family, we weren’t ‘cut out’ for the mission field – I had no idea my world was about to be kicked over on its side. One moment I was busy doing homework and planning slumber parties, the next moment I suddenly found myself in a third world country recovering from a hurricane. I went into culture shock as the poverty, disease, and the idea that human life isn’t so precious in other parts of the world… slowly seeped in.

Most children grow up in ‘phases’ – I was given no time for that. I took on the mental weight of an adult the moment I stepped out of that tiny TACA airplane… and into the rest of my life. In fact, the only evidence that I even had a childhood exists in a black 32×17 Rubbermaid trunk. I bought the trunk to protect my books, CDs, and photo albums from the Honduran heat and humidity. Today, I keep the trunk in my closet. It contains stacks of letters from my 8th grade Sunday school class… wishing me well, wishing me luck. It contains letters I wrote to myself… promising myself I would get out alive. It contains the jewelry I wore the day I was kidnapped… the photographs that were taken minutes before it happened, photographs of a dear friend who gave his life so that I could live. It contains fragments of a life that I shut away until now…

When I began writing for this album, I opened the trunk for the first time in years. The overwhelming smell of dark mahogany, coffee, and burning sugarcane (the smell of Honduras) hit me like a wall, and I knew that all the memories I’d stifled were begging to be brought to life. I also knew that I was being presented with a choice: I could let these memories, and the experiences that they represent, cuff me, paralyze me, and make me bitter… or I could turn them into something beautiful… something that other people could relate to and, hopefully, find comfort in. This is my gift.

Angel Tangled in the Telephone Lines
Amy Kuney Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Verse 1:
I prayed I prayed on my knees
On my knees?
Oh I prayed all night
My chin upon my chest
I prayed for a light
To help me get through this
And in the morning

Outside my window I see
I wasn?t alone,
Help was on her way to me

Chorus:
There?s an angel tangled in the telephone lines
The telephone lines, the telephone lines
Would you say you built our city too high?
Our city too high, is sitting too high?

Verse 2:
Hear sirens crying
We called the fire chief
And all his firemen
Came to cut the angel free
And she will bless them
They bow their heavy heads
This is as close to heaven
That they will ever get

Bridge:
We can?t be too sure
According to the chief

Why our ropes are too short
Our ladders won't reach

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Amy Kuney's song Angel Tangled in the Telephone Lines depicts the singer pleading for help to get through a difficult situation. The first verse highlights the singer's desperation as she prays all night with her chin on her chest, asking for light to help her overcome her struggles. The repetition of "on my knees" emphasizes the singer's humble and vulnerable position, as well as the intensity of her prayers. The following lines suggest that the singer's prayers were answered as she sees an angel outside her window, signaling that "help was on her way." The imagery of an angel is often associated with hope, comfort, and reassurance, which may indicate that the singer's situation is turning around.

The chorus introduces a new theme, bringing attention to the city's development, which was perhaps too high. The metaphor of the angel being tangled in the telephone lines suggests that the city's progress or success may have hindered its moral and spiritual growth. The repetition of the phrase "Our city too high" emphasizes the idea that the city's growth may have gone too far. It is unclear whether the angel's presence in the telephone lines is a sign of rebuke, rescue or both. The lyrics leave us with a sense of ambiguity, which is open to interpretation.

The second verse immerses the listener in the scene of an emergency, where sirens are crying and call to the fire department for assistance. The use of active verbs such as "cried" and "called" creates an urgent and chaotic atmosphere. The arrival of the firemen and their attempts to cut the angel free from the wires bring a momentary sense of relief, and the angel's blessing evokes a sense of gratitude and awe amongst those present. Yet, the bridge shifts the mood again, as a sense of uncertainty arises. The chief highlights the inadequacy of their tools and methods, suggesting that their limitations might prevent them from adequately addressing the root cause of the issue. This adds a layer of complexity to the song, which moves from a simple prayer to a reflection on the human condition.

Line by Line Meaning

I prayed I prayed on my knees
I sincerely prayed on my knees

On my knees?
Did I really pray on my knees?

Oh I prayed all night
I prayed the whole night without stopping

My chin upon my chest
I bowed my head while praying

I prayed for a light
I prayed for guidance or hope

To help me get through this
To get through my problems

And in the morning
Next morning,

Outside my window I see
I witnessed

I wasn't alone,
I wasn't by myself,

Help was on her way to me
Someone was coming to help me

There's an angel tangled in the telephone lines
An angel is caught in telephone wires