The Trinity Session is perhaps their best known record, recorded live in a single day on a single microphone in a church in Toronto. This album also included a unique cover version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane". Reed reportedly liked the Junkies' version of the song better than his own, and began performing their version in concert.
None of the band's subsequent albums have been hits outside of Canada, although the band has maintained a dedicated following and have continued to have chart hits in their native country. Following their 1998 album Miles from Our Home, Cowboy Junkies were dropped from their major label contract. They have continued to release albums on their own independent label, Latent Records.
Misguided Angel
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I want him by my side
Though he's wild and he's bad
And sometimes just plain mad
I need him to keep me satisfied"
I said "Papa, don't cry cause it's alright
And I see you in some of his ways
I'll love him the rest of my days"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer, black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
I said "Brother, you speak to me of passion
You said never to settle for nothing less
Well, it's in the way he walks,
It's in the way he talks
His smile, his anger and his kisses"
I said "Sister, don't you understand?
He's all I ever wanted in a man
I'm tired of sittin' around the T.V. every night
Hoping I'm finding a Mr. Right"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
He says "Baby, don't listen to what they say
There comes a time when you have to break away"
He says "Baby there are things we all cling to all our life
It's time to let them go and become my wife"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
The Cowboy Junkies’ Misguided Angel tells the story of a woman who is deeply in love with a man that is wild, bad, and sometimes just plain mad. She is completely unaware of the danger that he poses and how much he scares her; nonetheless, she is completely in love with him and needs him to keep her feeling satisfied. The opening line sees the woman turning to her mother for some advice about the man in question. While she admits that he scares her, she also confesses her undying love for him and how she wants him by her side no matter what the cost. In the next line, she turns to her father and tells him not to cry, because everything will be alright. The woman explains that she sees a part of her father in the man that she loves, and although he might not be the one her father wanted for her, she will love him for the rest of her days.
Later in the song, the woman talks to her brother and sister about her love for this man. She tells her brother that he was the one who taught her about passion, and this man possesses all of the passion that she needs. It is in his walk, his talk, his anger, his smile, and his kisses. She turns to her sister and tells her that this man is everything she ever wanted in a man, and she is tired of sitting around every night waiting to find a Mr. Right. Throughout the song, the chorus refers to the man as a misguided angel, who has a heart like Gabriel, pure and white as ivory, and a soul like Lucifer, black and cold as a piece of lead.
Line by Line Meaning
I said "Mama, he's crazy and he scares me
I expressed to my mother that he is unusual and frightening
But I want him by my side
Regardless of the danger, I desire him near me
Though he's wild and he's bad
Despite being reckless and mischievous
And sometimes just plain mad
And occasionally completely insane
I need him to keep me satisfied"
I must have him to feel content
I said "Papa, don't cry cause it's alright
I told my father not to be sad because things are okay
And I see you in some of his ways
I recognize some of his patterns that look similar to my father
Though he might not give me the life that you wanted
Although he may not provide the life you desired for me
I'll love him the rest of my days"
I will love him forever
Misguided angel hangin' over me
A deluded angel presiding over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Emotion like Archangel Gabriel, innocent and white like ivory
Soul like a Lucifer, black and cold like a piece of lead
Spirit like Lucifer, dark and freezing like lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
Erroneous angel, I will love you until I perish
I said "Brother, you speak to me of passion
I mentioned to my brother that he discusses with me about passion
You said never to settle for nothing less
You told me to never settle for anything less
Well, it's in the way he walks,
But it's evident by the way he walks
It's in the way he talks
It's apparent in the way he speaks
His smile, his anger and his kisses"
His grin, his rage, and his kisses
I said "Sister, don't you understand?
I told my sister that she doesn't comprehend
He's all I ever wanted in a man
He's all I desired in a man
I'm tired of sittin' around the T.V. every night
I'm exhausted of sitting in front of the TV every night
Hoping I'm finding a Mr. Right"
Wishing to find the ideal man for me
He says "Baby, don't listen to what they say
He tells me not to heed what others say
There comes a time when you have to break away"
Occasionally you must separate yourself
He says "Baby there are things we all cling to all our life
He explains that everyone has things they cling to for their entire life
It's time to let them go and become my wife"
It's time to let them go and marry him
Misguided angel hangin' over me
A deluded angel presiding over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Emotion like Archangel Gabriel, innocent and white like ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Spirit like Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Dark and freezing like lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
Erroneous angel, I will love you until I perish
Lyrics © PAZ JUNK MUSIC INC
Written by: Margo Timmins, Michael Edward Timmins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dan McCaffrey
Let's be honest.
This album goes through almost everything.
If you give the whole album an honest listen, and don't get anything, you're already dead.
That's not an insult.
That's sympathy.
I feel so bad for anyone who can't find something that they can relate to in this masterpiece.
✌🍻✌
jfess57
I said "Mama, he's crazy and he scares me
But I want him by my side
Though he's wild and he's bad
And sometimes just plain mad
I need him to keep me satisfied"
I said "Papa, don't cry cause it's alright
And I see you in some of his ways
Though he might not give me the life that you wanted
I'll love him the rest of my days"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer, black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
I said "Brother, you speak to me of passion
You said never to settle for nothing less
Well, it's in the way he walks,
It's in the way he talks
His smile, his anger and his kisses"
I said "Sister, don't you understand?
He's all I ever wanted in a man
I'm tired of sittin' around the T.V. every night
Hoping I'm finding a Mr. Right"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
He says "Baby, don't listen to what they say
There comes a time when you have to break away"
He says "Baby there are things we all cling to all our life
It's time to let them go and become my wife"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
Lino Agudelo
I said "Mama, he's crazy and he scares me
But I want him by my side
Though he's wild and he's bad
And sometimes just plain mad
I need him to keep me satisfied"
I said "Papa, don't cry cause it's alright
And I see you in some of his ways
Though he might not give me the life that you wanted
I'll love him the rest of my days"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer, black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
I said "Brother, you speak to me of passion
You said never to settle for nothing less
Well, it's in the way he walks,
It's in the way he talks
His smile, his anger and his kisses"
I said "Sister, don't you understand?
He's all I ever wanted in a man
I'm tired of sittin' around the T.V. every night
Hoping I'm finding a Mr. Right"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
He says "Baby, don't listen to what they say
There comes a time when you have to break away"
He says "Baby there are things we all cling to all our life
It's time to let them go and become my wife"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
Genjo_N_Mojave
I said "Mama, he's crazy and he scares me
But I want him by my side
Though he's wild and he's bad
And sometimes just plain mad
I need him to keep me satisfied"
I said "Papa, don't cry cause it's alright
And I see you in some of his ways
Though he might not give me the life that you wanted
I'll love him the rest of my days"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer, black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
I said "Brother, you speak to me of passion
You said never to settle for nothing less
Well, it's in the way he walks,
It's in the way he talks
His smile, his anger and his kisses"
I said "Sister, don't you understand?
He's all I ever wanted in a man
I'm tired of sittin' around the T.V. every night
Hoping I'm finding a Mr. Right"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
He says "Baby, don't listen to what they say
There comes a time when you have to break away"
He says "Baby there are things we all cling to all our life
It's time to let them go and become my wife"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
sandie sefuno
said "Mama, he's crazy and he scares me
But I want him by my side
Though he's wild and he's bad
And sometimes just plain mad
I need him to keep me satisfied"
I said "Papa, don't cry cause it's alright
And I see you in some of his ways
Though he might not give me the life that you wanted
I'll love him the rest of my days"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer, black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
I said "Brother, you speak to me of passion
You said never to settle for nothing less
Well, it's in the way he walks,
It's in the way he talks
His smile, his anger and his kisses"
I said "Sister, don't you understand?
He's all I ever wanted in a man
I'm tired of sittin' around the T.V. every night
Hoping I'm finding a Mr. Right"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
He says "Baby, don't listen to what they say
There comes a time when you have to break away"
He says "Baby there are things we all cling to all our life
It's time to let them go and become my wife"
Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer
Black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead
Redmenace96
The story of this album, Trinity Sessions, is music recording legend. I still listen to it 30 years later and it brutalizes my emotions. It is the prototype for Alt-Country.
Craig Muir
I have a high fidelity audio system and listening to this album loudly you can hear the creaks of the church it was recorded in in downtown Toronto. Traffic in the background. Even though it’s an album recording it’s as intimate as if you were there. 😊
Blue Gregory
Beyond genre, simply one of the 15 best albums ever made.
Victor Hart
You just saying alt country, pisses me off. Fuck your labels.
Stephanie Redden
Ditto
Đanfranko Geza Martinčić
It's a masterpiece
Debera Morrison Howard
My husband of thirty four years past away May 20, 2018. He suffered for twenty years from advanced Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. He was a paraplegic when he past. I love him so and wear both of our wedding bands. This is my memorial song to my beloved husband.
coster🦉
May the good Lord bless you, and ease your pain and sorrow. Always look to the light. God bless you he's there.
Chloe
Thank you for sharing with us. Beautiful.
Tee
Remember the good times soon you will be together