Angels Rearrange
Bob Mould Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

A pretty penny buys you lots of things
A wooden nickel's worth of diamond rings
Good ideas, dozen for a dime
And quarter notes are all lined up in time

We're sitting somewhere frightened
Right between that and excited
Angels are rearranging

I never thought that we would fall apart
But the weather came and withered up your heart

We're sitting somewhere frightened
Right between that and excited
Angels are rearranging
I never ever thought that we would fall apart

And though we tried
All the good times passed us by
And left us standing in the middle
Of a place we've never been
And if we die
Angels falling from the sky, singing




Don't be scared of change
'Cause it may be time to rearrange

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bob Mould's "Angels Rearrange" start by talking about the various material and abstract things that can be afforded with different amounts of money. The singer notes that a pretty penny can buy a lot, while a wooden nickel will only get you a phony version of something valuable. This then transitions into the idea that good ideas can be found for cheap, and that music is a mixed bag where quarter notes are always in place. But the focus quickly shifts to the present moment of the song, where the singer is "sitting somewhere frightened" between fear and excitement while the angels are rearranging. This phrase is the key to understanding the song's overarching theme, which is that change is often scary but also inevitable.


The second verse reveals a deep personal pain that the singer is struggling with. He sings about how he never thought that the subject of the song (possibly a past lover or friend) would fall apart, but that the weather (perhaps a metaphor for life's difficulties or unexpected circumstances) ultimately caused their heart to wither. The repetition of "sitting somewhere frightened / right between that and excited / angels are rearranging" in between each verse emphasizes that these two themes are intertwined and constantly affecting each other. The singer then reflects on how all the good times have passed by, and that they are now standing in a new and scary place that they've never experienced before. But despite the angels falling from the sky, the song ends on a message of hope and encouragement to embrace change instead of fearing it.


Overall, "Angels Rearrange" is a song that speaks to the universality of change and how it can bring both fear and excitement. Mould's lyrics capture the human experience of uncertainty and pain while also encouraging listeners to embrace change as an opportunity for growth and new experiences.


Line by Line Meaning

A pretty penny buys you lots of things
Having a lot of money can buy you many material possessions


A wooden nickel's worth of diamond rings
Even something that seems valuable may not be worth much


Good ideas, dozen for a dime
Coming up with good ideas is easy and cheap


And quarter notes are all lined up in time
Musical notes played in a specific tempo and rhythm are orderly and predictable


We're sitting somewhere frightened
We are in a state of fear


Right between that and excited
Our emotions are in a state of uncertainty, halfway between fear and excitement


Angels are rearranging
There is a sense that something significant is happening and it is being orchestrated by spiritual beings


I never thought that we would fall apart
I didn't anticipate our relationship or situation to crumble


But the weather came and withered up your heart
Something has happened that has changed you and made you less loving or kind


And though we tried
Despite our efforts


All the good times passed us by
We didn't enjoy or fully appreciate the good moments we had


And left us standing in the middle
We are now in a state of confusion and uncertainty


Of a place we've never been
We are experiencing something that is entirely new and unfamiliar


And if we die
Even if we pass away from this life


Angels falling from the sky, singing
There is a sense of spiritual intervention and that we are being looked after


Don't be scared of change
Change is inevitable and shouldn't be feared


'Cause it may be time to rearrange
Change can bring new opportunities and a fresh start




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BOB MOULD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@MeetYouAtTheBing

louder, louder, more volume....yeah Bob, i see the angels dancing up above

@Kangabeer

Great to see the Husker boys still rocking it out......good luck Grant with your new lp too!!

@danjay67

Well said.... VERY well said.

@timskelton1

but the weather came and withered up your heart.......

@mrmartintoth

Bob Mould and Michael Stipe should make a song together!

@stephenroche5107

And Mark Edwards from MYy Dad Is Dead too

@fragile1966

scrummy stuff