Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to fame after forming the pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, "Fantastic" (1983) and "Make It Big" (1984), reached number one on the US Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart. They had commercial success with singles "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)", "Young Guns (Go for It)", "Bad Boys", "Club Tropicana", "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Last Christmas", "Everything She Wants", “Freedom”, and “I'm Your Man”. Their 1985 tour in China was the first by a Western popular music act and generated worldwide media coverage. Michael took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and performed at the following year's Live Aid concert.
Michael's first solo single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK and US. The second solo single, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in 1986. After Wham! disbanded that year, Michael released the number-one duet with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". His debut solo album, "Faith" (1987), stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, having sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael became the best-selling music artist of 1988, and "Faith" was awarded Album of the Year at the 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's second solo album, "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" (1990), was also a number one in the UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the worldwide hit "Freedom! '90". Michael went on to release a series of multimillion-selling albums, including "Older" (1996), "Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" (1998), "Songs from the Last Century" (1999), "Patience" (2004), and "Twenty Five" (2006). The albums earned him multiple hits such as "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Easier Affair".
Michael came out as gay in 1998 and was an active LGBT rights campaigner and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. His personal life, drug use, and legal troubles made headlines following an arrest for public lewdness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offenses. The 2005 documentary "A Different Story" covered his career and personal life. Michael's "25 Live" tour spanned three tours from 2006 to 2008. Michael fell into a coma in 2011 during a bout with pneumonia but later recovered. He performed his final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Michael died of heart disease on Christmas Day in 2016 at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Michael
Solo discography
Faith (1987)
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990)
Older (1996)
Songs from the Last Century (1999)
Patience (2004)
Wham! discography
Fantastic (1983)
Make It Big (1984)
Music from the Edge of Heaven (1986)
Cowboys and Angels
George Michael Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Monkey see and monkey do
Their wish is your command
You're not to blame
Everyone's the same
All you do is love and love is all you do
I should know by now the way I fought for you
I know you think that you're safe
Mister
Harmless deception
That keeps love at bay
It's the ones who resist that we most want to kiss
Wouldn't you say?
Cowboys and angels
They all have the time for you
Why should I imagine that I'd be a find for you
Why should I imagine
That I'd have something to say
But that scar on your face
That beautiful face of yours
In your heart there's a trace
Of someone before
When your heart's in someone else's plans
Things you say and things you do
They don't understand
It's such a shame
Always ends the same
You can call it love but I don't think it's true
You should know by now
I'm not the boy for you
You're not to blame
Always ends the same
I know you think that you're safe
Sister
Harmless affection that keeps things this way
It's the ones who persist for the sake of a kiss
Who will pay
Cowboys and angels
They all take a shine to you
Why should I imagine that I was designed for you
Why should I believe
That you would stay
But that scar on your face
That beautiful face of yours
Don't you think that I'd know
They've hurt you before
Take this man to your bed
Maybe his hands will help you forget
Please be stronger than your past
The future may still give you a chance
In this song, George Michael is singing to someone he cares for deeply, but he knows his love is unrequited. He explores the idea of being in love with someone who is unable to reciprocate those feelings because their heart belongs to someone else. The lyrics suggest that the person he's singing to is not to blame for their inability to love him back, as "everyone's the same." He also acknowledges that he's fought hard for this person and that all he does is love, but it's not enough.
The lyrics mention "cowboys and angels," which could refer to different types of people that the person he's singing to may be involved with. Cowboys could represent the wild, spontaneous, reckless types, while angels could represent the safe, kind, gentle types. The singer seems to feel like he doesn't fit into either category and that's why he believes he's not the right person for the one he loves.
Overall, "Cowboys and Angels" is a contemplative, emotionally charged song about a love that can't be fully realized. The singer accepts this fact with grace, but still implores the person he loves to take a chance on him and possibly forget their painful past.
Line by Line Meaning
When your heart's in someone else's hands
When you trust someone else with your heart
Monkey see and monkey do
Copying someone else's actions and behavior
Their wish is your command
Doing whatever the other person wants
You're not to blame
It's not your fault
Everyone's the same
People are all alike in some ways
All you do is love and love is all you do
Your primary focus is love
I should know by now the way I fought for you
I tried hard to win your affection
I know you think that you're safe Mister
You feel secure with him
Harmless deception
A lie that won't cause harm
That keeps love at bay
Keeps love from getting too close
It's the ones who resist that we most want to kiss
We desire those who are hard to get
Wouldn't you say?
Don't you agree?
Cowboys and angels
Different kinds of people
They all have the time for you
They're interested in you
Why should I imagine that I'd be a find for you
Why would you be interested in me?
But that scar on your face
The visible injury on your face
That beautiful face of yours
Despite the injury, you're still beautiful
In your heart there's a trace
You still hold onto feelings for someone else
Of someone before
From a past relationship
Things you say and things you do
Your words and actions
They don't understand
The other person doesn't get it
It's such a shame
It's unfortunate
Always ends the same
It never works out differently
You can call it love but I don't think it's true
Although you consider it love, I disagree
You should know by now
You ought to realize already
I'm not the boy for you
I'm not the guy you need
I know you think that you're safe Sister
You feel comfortable with her
Harmless affection that keeps things this way
Non-sexual touching that maintains the status quo
Who will pay
Who will suffer the consequences
Cowboys and angels
Different personality types
They all take a shine to you
They all like you
Why should I imagine that I was designed for you
Why would you be interested in someone like me?
Why should I believe
Why would I have faith
That you would stay
That you would choose to be with me
Don't you think that I'd know
Wouldn't I be aware
They've hurt you before
You've been injured by someone else in the past
Take this man to your bed
Be intimate with this guy tonight
Maybe his hands will help you forget
He may distract you from your past hurts
Please be stronger than your past
Try not to let your previous damage hold you back
The future may still give you a chance
Things could still work out for you
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Michael
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ip9yu7lp1q
Cowboys and Angels
When your heart's in someone else's hands
Monkey see and monkey do
Their wish is your command
You're not to blame
Everyone's the same
/
All you do is love and love is all you do
I should know by now, the way I fought for you
You're not to blame
Everyone's the same
/
I know you think that you're safe
Mister
Harmless deception
/
That keeps love at bay
It's the ones who resist that we most want to kiss
Wouldn't you say?
Cowboys and angels
They all have the time for you
Why should I imagine
That I'd be a find for you
Why should I imagine
That I'd have something to say
But that scar on your face
That beautiful face of yours
In your heart there's a trace
Of someone before
/
When your heart's in someone else's plans
Things you say and things you do
They don't understand
It's such a shame
Always ends the same
/
You can call it love but I don't think it's true
You should know by now
I'm not the boy for you
You're not to blame
Always ends the same
/
I know you think that you're safe
Sister
Harmless affection
That keeps things this way
It's the ones who persist for the sake of a kiss
Who will pay
Cowboys and angels
They all take a shine to you
Why should I imagine that I was designed for you
Why should I believe
That you would stay
/
But that scar on your face
That beautiful face of yours
Don't you think that I know
They've hurt you before
Take this man to your bed
Maybe his hands will help you forget
Please be stronger than your past
The future may still give you a chance
@carrroad
A man with such depth and emotional intelligence as a musician, lyricist and ultimately as a human being.
@patrickbrett1552
He was a beautiful person.
@adammarquez5203
You too deep down inside
@chateaupig826
😥 ⚘💯
@JoostVermeer
This really shows how talented George Michael really was, both as a writer and a singer. What a great song!
@1921ewpeter
Helemaal mee eens Joost !
@alfredocastillo6785
One of my favorites songs by George Michael. Relaxing and Soft.
@RajeshJustaguy
it's timeless. I loved this track from the day it came out and i was pretty blessed to have found it when it came out
@tz125r
A musical dream from a musical genius. The bass line the sax solo and the arrangement are just perfection. A beautiful song from such a beautiful man. RIP kind soul.
@andrewroberts6162
I agree, a genius and a gentleman