Angelina
Deric Ruttan Lyrics


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She had his picture in a locket
Her hands were tremblin' on the wheel
When Jimmy went in for one last robbery
With a .45 of cold blue steel
Told the clerk," Don't try to be a hero"
But that kid put up a fight
And one stray bullet through their windshield
Took Angelina's life
The cops found a crowd of people
And a bullet hole in the clerk
Jimmy in the car, Angelina in his arms
He was whisperin' to her

"Angelina you can close your eyes
You'll spend tonight in paradise, my pretty Angelina
Oh Angelina, go on across that mighty river
Someday we'll be together my pretty Angelina"

I was a guard there on the cellblock
Maximum security
And guilty men are all the same
They all think they should be free
But Jimmy Nichols, he was different
He said,"To die is to gain
For I have made my peace with Jesus
And tonight I break these chains"
Jimmy smiled when the preacher came in
He said," Friend lead the way
I got an angel waitin' on me
Tonight I'm gonna see her
And I can finally say"

"Oh Angelina, girl open up your eyes
We'll spend tonight in paradise my pretty Angelina
Oh Angelina, I've come across that mighty river
Now we'll always be together, my pretty Angelina"





Instrumental

Overall Meaning

"Deric Ruttan's Angelina" is a soul-stirring narrative of love, crime, and redemption that leaves the listener enthralled with the poignant irony of life's turns. The song paints the picture of a doomed couple, Jimmy and Angelina, robbing a convenience store with Jimmy carrying a .45 pistol. Angelina, who had Jimmy's picture in a locket, was driving when things fell apart, and a stray bullet hit Angelina, killing her instantly. With Angelina in his arms, Jimmy promises her that someday they will be together, and she can close her eyes and spend the night in paradise.


The storyline takes a twist when Jimmy is incarcerated in maximum security, where he realizes that death is imminent. However, he is at peace because he has made his peace with Jesus and breaks the chains to meet his beloved Angelina. The guards and a preacher witness Jimmy's peaceful death, and he passes on with a smile, knowing his Angelina is waiting on the other side of life.


The song's interpretation and delivery evoke feelings of compassion, grief, and hope. It tells the story of untimely death, love that persists beyond life, and the power of redemptive faith. The characters in the song - Jimmy and Angelina - are portrayed in a way that makes the listener connect with their desperation and desire for something outside their reach, even in the face of death.


Line by Line Meaning

She had his picture in a locket
Angelina carried a locket with a picture of her lover.


Her hands were tremblin' on the wheel
Angelina was nervous while driving the car.


When Jimmy went in for one last robbery
Jimmy was attempting to rob a store for the last time.


With a .45 of cold blue steel
Jimmy was carrying a .45 caliber gun.


Told the clerk,' Don't try to be a hero'
Jimmy instructed the clerk not to interfere with his robbery.


But that kid put up a fight
The clerk resisted Jimmy's robbery attempt.


And one stray bullet through their windshield
The bullet shot by Jimmy or the clerk went through the windshield.


Took Angelina's life
Angelina died due to the shooting.


The cops found a crowd of people
The police arrived and found a group of people.


And a bullet hole in the clerk
The clerk was shot and injured.


Jimmy in the car, Angelina in his arms
Jimmy was holding Angelina in his lap inside the car.


He was whisperin' to her
Jimmy was speaking softly and tenderly to Angelina.


"Angelina you can close your eyes
Jimmy asked Angelina to close her eyes.


You'll spend tonight in paradise, my pretty Angelina
Jimmy assured Angelina that they will be together in paradise.


Oh Angelina, go on across that mighty river
Jimmy asked Angelina to cross the river to enter paradise.


Someday we'll be together my pretty Angelina"
Jimmy promised Angelina that they will reunite in paradise.


I was a guard there on the cellblock
The artist was a prison guard.


Maximum security
The prison was heavily secured.


And guilty men are all the same
All the criminals looked the same.


They all think they should be free
All the prisoners thought they were wrongly accused.


But Jimmy Nichols, he was different
Jimmy had accepted his guilt.


He said,"To die is to gain
Jimmy believed that dying would take him to paradise.


For I have made my peace with Jesus
Jimmy had reconciled with his faith.


And tonight I break these chains"
Jimmy planned to escape from prison and die.


Jimmy smiled when the preacher came in
Jimmy was happy to see the preacher.


He said," Friend lead the way
Jimmy asked the preacher to guide him to paradise.


I got an angel waitin' on me
Jimmy believed that Angelina was waiting for him.


Tonight I'm gonna see her
Jimmy was prepared to die and go to paradise.


And I can finally say"
Jimmy was content that he had accepted his fate.


"Oh Angelina, girl open up your eyes
Jimmy called out to Angelina.


We'll spend tonight in paradise my pretty Angelina
Jimmy promised to spend the night in paradise with Angelina.


Oh Angelina, I've come across that mighty river
Jimmy tells Angelina that has crossed over to paradise.


Now we'll always be together, my pretty Angelina"
Jimmy reassures that he and Angelina will always be together.




Contributed by Andrew V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Ken 555

I've literally been looking for this song since I was 10 thank you so much... you should do tom and Annie nest by him

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