And The Angels Sing
Benny Goodman Benny Goodman and His Orchestra & Martha Tilton Lyrics


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We meet, and the angels sing
The angels sing the sweetest song I ever heard
You speak, and the angels sing
Or am I breathing music into every word

Suddenly, the setting is strange
I can see water and moonlight beaming
Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore
Then suddenly, I see it all change
Long winter nights with the candles gleaming
Through it all your face that I adore

You smile, and the angels sing
And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start




We kiss, and the angels sing
And leave their music ringing in my heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Benny Goodman's And The Angels Sing depict a moment of intense love and passion between two people. The singer feels as though the angels themselves are singing in response to their feelings. The sweetness of the love and the beauty of the moment are almost too much for the singer to bear. When the object of the singer's affection speaks, it is as though they are breathing music into every word. The setting itself seems to change as the two people share this moment, becoming something more magical and transcendent.


The singer goes further to describe how this magical moment feels. They can see water and moonlight, and as it breaks on the shore, it transforms into something different. They describe a long winter night with candles flickering, and through it all, they see the face of the person they adore. When the person smiles, the angels seem to sing even louder. As they share a kiss, the angels' music fills their hearts.


The overall theme of the song seems to be the power of love and how it can transform our world into something more magical and beautiful than we ever thought possible. The use of angels singing emphasizes the transcendent nature of the feelings these two individuals share.


Line by Line Meaning

We meet, and the angels sing
When we come together, it feels like heaven's choir is singing the most beautiful song.


You speak, and the angels sing
The sound of your voice is so lovely that it conjures up a chorus of angels singing in my mind.


Suddenly, the setting is strange
All of a sudden, my surroundings feel unfamiliar and surreal.


I can see water and moonlight beaming
I envision a picturesque scene of water reflecting moonlight.


Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore
The waves of the water are sparkling and playful as they crash on an untouched shore.


Then suddenly, I see it all change
The scenery shifts and morphs into something different.


Long winter nights with the candles gleaming
I envision cozy, candlelit nights during the cold winter season.


Through it all your face that I adore
In every scenario I imagine, your face remains the most important and cherished aspect.


You smile, and the angels sing
Just the sight of your smile makes me hear the angels singing once more.


And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start
Initially, the sound of their singing is soft and muted.


We kiss, and the angels sing
But as we kiss, the choir of angels swells and their music rings out loud and clear in my heart.




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ziggy Elman, Johnny Mercer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@darrylcpreston4043

One of the greatest Big Band Era songs; despite the fact that it was cobbled together at the last minute. EVERYONE connected with it performed at peak career excellence!

@stacyblue1980

Yes! T

@mikesaeli7715

Iconic recording of Johnny Mercer’s classic song. No one does it better than Martha and Ziggy

@jaimemarin22

For me there is no other version more wonderful. Marthe Tilton its smoth , voice . And that trumpet is out from every limit.

@stacyblue1980

Nothin' better! Always a favorite of mine. Timeless. Thank you.

@thorobred7

The Liltin' Miss Tilton

@Celluloidwatcher

A classic recording. Combining big band jazz with a melody from a Jewish folk song (Ziggy Elman's trumpet playing), And the Angels Sing broke ground in that regard. Also, Martha Tilton's vocalizing was another highlight, with its smoothness. I have heard this song since childhood, when it was played on the radio, and it never gets old. Thank you for uploading and sharing.

@fromthesidelines

Yes, the tune was adapted by Ziggy from "Der Shtiler Bulgar".

@HociungmarianBlogspot

Romanian song from the region of Moldavia.

@fede5615

Well a beatiful voice

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