Mott the Hoople formed when Silence, a not-too-successful group from the Welsh borders, was joined by session pianist and rock and roll hopeful Ian Hunter along with musicians Mick Ralphs, Verden Allen, Pete Overend Watts, and Dale Griffin . They developed from Dylan obsessives to their own character over the course of four albums for Island. They were a very popular live act but only achieved brief commercial success.
In 1971, the band was close to splitting up but continued to record track "All the Young Dudes", a song written for them by up and coming pop star and fan David Bowie. Three more albums and several pop hits later, the group fell apart after Ian Hunter left in 1974. The remaining members mutated into Mott, an 'also-ran' band which released two albums before disbanding in 1976. Original guitarist Ralphs had a massive boost in his fortunes as a member of rockers Bad Company.
Griffin died in his sleep on 17 January 2016 at the age of 67 and Watts died, almost exactly a year later, on 22 January 2017, from throat cancer.
Sweet Angeline
Mott the Hoople Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh angeline, I love you, your mouth is like a sting
And when I close my eyes each night, I often hear you sing
Imagination's hidden book, you wrote it on the wing
And when I vowed to comfort you, well you swallowed everything
Angeline, oh my angeline
I would cry a million smiles for my indian city queen
Well your body it is broken in so many different ways
And when I stoop to find your head, well it disappeared in haze.
Your blood flows like the finest juice - the kiss of burgundy
And where it comes from no one knows, but where it's going I can't see
Angeline, oh my angeline
My sweet angeline - (y'know) you have rendered me unseen
I would cry a million smiles for my indian city queen
Angeline, oh my angeline
You little angeline - you have rendered me unseen
I would cry a million smiles for my indian city queen
And your crystal-coloured cardboard bins - attack me from the paint
And I think that I am getting lost among the swollen states
Oh rescue me or bury me, for I care not what you do
There is just one thing that I want to say am I really you
Angeline, oh my angeline
My sweet angeline - you have rendered me unseen
I would cry a million smiles for my indian city queen
In "Sweet Angeline," Mott the Hoople's Ian Hunter sings about his love for the titular character, describing her in vivid and often cryptic language. He admires her singing voice and her mouth, which he compares to a sting. He also alludes to her imagination and her ability to write in an ethereal way, saying she wrote her "hidden book" on the wing. Despite her apparent physical ailments, Hunter is still drawn to her and would do anything for her. He even questions whether they might be the same person.
The lyrics of "Sweet Angeline" are open to interpretation, as Hunter employs a lot of metaphor and imagery. Some fans have speculated that Angeline is a stand-in for the music industry itself or perhaps an embodiment of the muse. Others simply see her as a tragic but alluring figure who has captured Hunter's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh angeline, I love you, your mouth is like a sting
The singer loves Angeline and finds her mouth captivating.
And when I close my eyes each night, I often hear you sing
The singer thinks of Angeline often, even when they're not together, and imagines her singing.
Imagination's hidden book, you wrote it on the wing
Angeline is creative and imaginative, and the singer admires her for it.
And when I vowed to comfort you, well you swallowed everything
The artist tries to comfort Angeline, but she takes in everything, both good and bad.
Angeline, oh my angeline
My sweet angeline - you have rendered me unseen
I would cry a million smiles for my indian city queen
The artist is deeply taken by Angeline's love and would do anything to be with her.
Well your body it is broken in so many different ways
And when I stoop to find your head, well it disappeared in haze.
Angeline is physically fragile, and the singer struggles to find her at times.
Your blood flows like the finest juice - the kiss of burgundy
And where it comes from no one knows, but where it's going I can't see
Angeline's blood is a metaphor for her life force, and its origin and destination are unknown and elusive.
You little angeline - you have rendered me unseen
I would cry a million smiles for my indian city queen
The artist is so in love with Angeline that she has 'rendered him unseen' from the rest of the world.
And your crystal-coloured cardboard bins - attack me from the paint
And I think that I am getting lost among the swollen states
The artist is lost in his thoughts about Angeline and struggling to find his way.
Oh rescue me or bury me, for I care not what you do
There is just one thing that I want to say am I really you
The artist feels so connected to Angeline that he wonders if they are the same person.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ian Hunter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind