After ten plus years of periodic collaboration on poetry, art and music projects, Adam Stolorow (vocals, keyboards) and Baxter Holland (bass) arrived in Brooklyn by way of late 90’s Providence and the requisite diet of utopian thinking and freak flag waving. What started in Chicago as an experimental ripple of drums, cheap keyboards and onstage loops between Stolorow and drummer Matthew Berland in 2004 became a focused vibrational wave by the time it reached the coast. Increasingly, the Miracles sound threatens to burst living through the brick and asphalt of the metropolis.
With the addition of Chicago transplant Gabriel Fowler on drums in 2006, the re-formed trio went almost immediately into New York’s legendary and now defunct Funcity studio to record “Pioneers” with producer Wharton Tiers (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Unrest), which the band self-released as a limited edition silkscreened 12” in 2007. The Funcity session was followed by visits to Brooklyn’s Civil Defense studio, where the band recorded Colony Collapse (Creative Capitalism) with Jeremy Scott in 2007 and 2008. Fowler left the band in 2008 to pursue other projects and Amanda Huron (Vertebrates, DC) rotated into the mix, writing, touring and recording the Ovum EP (Creative Capitalism 2010). Drummer Chris Carson joined the band in late 2009.
Miracles work in skyscrapers but worship like beasts.
City Of Angels
Miracles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't understand
Why you let the things you did
Get so out of hand
You'd have managed better
If you'd had it planned
Now why'd you choose such a backward time
If you'd come today
You could have reached the whole nation
Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication
Don't you get me wrong
Only want to know
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Jesus Christ
Superstar
Do you think you're what they say you are?
Jesus Christ
Superstar
Do you think you're what they say you are?
Tell me what you think
About your friends at the top
Now who d'you think besides yourself
Was the pick of the crop?
Buddah was he where it's at?
Is he where you are?
Could Muhammmed move a mountain
Or was that just PR?
Did you mean to die like that?
Was that a mistake or
Did you know your messy death
Would be a record breaker?
The lyrics of Miracles’ “City of Angels” pose several questions about various religions and their respective religious figures. The lyrics begin with statements that sound addressed to Jesus Christ, asking why he chose a backward time and such a strange land, and how he let the things he did get out of hand. The verses then shift to asking other religious figures about their power and abilities - whether Buddha is where “it’s at,” whether Muhammad could move mountains, and whether their deaths were planned or accidental.
The repeated chorus “Jesus Christ Superstar, do you think you’re what they say you are?” is directed at Jesus, questioning whether he believes he is really the Messiah. The line “If you’d come today, you could have reached the whole nation” refers to the lack of mass communication during Jesus’ time, suggesting that if he had come to Earth in the present, his message would have spread further and been more effective.
Overall, the lyrics of “City of Angels” raise thought-provoking questions about faith, power, and belief in religious figures. Rather than offering answers, the song encourages the listener to contemplate their own beliefs and interpretations of these religious figures.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I look at you
Each time I observe you
I don't understand
I am unable to comprehend
Why you let the things you did
Why you allowed the activities you engaged in
Get so out of hand
To become so much intense
You'd have managed better
You could have handled it well
If you'd had it planned
If you had intended it
Now why'd you choose such a backward time
Why you opted for such an obsolete era
And such a strange land
And such a bizarre place
If you'd come today
If you had arrived today
You could have reached the whole nation
You could have been known to everyone
Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication
The nation you came to had no mass media during 4 BC
Don't you get me wrong
Do not misunderstand me
Only want to know
Just curious to find out
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Who are you? What have you given up?
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Superstar
Superstar
Do you think you're what they say you are?
Do you believe yourself to be what people describe you to be?
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Superstar
Superstar
Do you think you're what they say you are?
Do you think you are who people claim you are?
Tell me what you think
Let me know your opinions
About your friends at the top
About your companions in power
Now who d'you think besides yourself
Other than yourself, who do you consider
Was the pick of the crop?
To be the best one among all?
Buddah was he where it's at?
Was Buddha the one that had all the answers?
Is he where you are?
Is Buddha present here?
Could Muhammmed move a mountain
Was Muhammad capable of relocating hills
Or was that just PR?
Or was it just publicity?
Did you mean to die like that?
Did you intend to die the way you did?
Was that a mistake or
Was it an error, or
Did you know your messy death
Did you anticipate your gruesome death
Would be a record breaker?
Would be an unparalleled incident?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, TIM RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@celistino19
songs of the 70's was truly great..
@christiancaldwell9805
EXACTLY!!!! THIS SONG IS SO PEACEFUL AND RELAXING!!!!!!!!!!!
@TheCubbyman61
It actually makes me teary eyed. We recently spent a week in L.A. I first heard this song when I was in high school back in the 70's. Brings a lot of memories.
@foxspeedlogistics
Wow i was probably 5 when i heard this song and it was one of my favorites, and it still is! Lovely, melancholic yet entrancing melody. The 70's lives on!
@allanref
I get goosebumps everytime i hear this musical/lyrical masterpiece...standing O!
@anjayzer
once i heard this id fall in love with it one of my fav,rt never got tired of listening thanks for sharing
@peterbcheng2003
a great memory from the golden years. . .love it so much
@arnelwv888
Great Song from the golden years..
@cielitolomibao5783
I remember our HS days, i was a member of Glee Club, we sang this very nice song, i really love the tune & lyrics.
@jpcanes
The first side of City Of Angels is one of the best EVER!! Used to go to sleep with it back in the day many, many times. Feel fortunate I was able to find it on CD.