Sexsmith started his first band at 14. After moving to Toronto he formed the Uncool and released his cassette Out of the Duff, and a year later, There's a Way. Meanwhile, he worked as a courier, and released Grand Opera Lane in 1991. On the strength of this album he earned a contract which led to the self-titled album Ron Sexsmith of 1995. Between 1997 and 2001, Sexsmith released three more albums before the acclaimed Cobblestone Runway in 2002.
Speaking With The Angel
Ron Sexsmith Lyrics
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He don't know how to steal
How to deal or deceive
So leave him alone
Set him free
Cause he's speaking with the angel
Speaking with the angel that only he can see
You'd say he's so helpless
You don't pull the string
Don't you know anything?
Leave him alone, let him be
Cause he's speaking with the angel
Speaking with the angel that only he can see
Would you teach him 'bout heaven?
Would you show him how to love the earth?
Would you poison him with prejudice
From the moment of his birth?
He in the name of love
He in the blood of lamb
He that never lays blame
He don't even know his name
So leave him alone
Set him free
Cause he's speaking with the angel
Speaking with the angel (the very one)
That spoke to you and me
Oh do you remember?
In Ron Sexsmith's song "Speaking With The Angel", the singer is defending a person who he perceives to be innocent, naive and pure. The person in question is someone who "don't know how to lie or undermine you" and "don't know how to steal, how to deal or deceive". The singer asks the listener to leave this pure soul alone, as he is "speaking with the angel that only he can see". The singer contrasts this pure soul with the listener, who he perceives as less pure and less innocent. The listener does not know how to "pull the string" and does not seem to possess valuable knowledge. The singer once again tells the listener to leave the innocent one alone and let him be.
The singer then asks a series of rhetorical questions. He asks whether the listener would teach the innocent one about heaven, show him how to love the earth or poison him with prejudice from the moment of his birth. The singer contrasts the pure soul with a more religious figure, stating that the pure soul is "in the name of love", "in the blood of lamb" and "never lays blame". The song ends with the singer asking if the listener remembers "the very one" that spoke to both of them.
Line by Line Meaning
He don't know how to lie or undermine you
He is an honest and straightforward person who does not know how to deceive or manipulate others
He don't know how to steal
He does not have the tendency to take what belongs to others without permission
How to deal or deceive
He lacks the ability to handle situations through dishonesty or deception
So leave him alone
Do not bother or disturb him unnecessarily
Set him free
Do not impose upon him, but let him be his own person
Cause he's speaking with the angel
He is communicating with his inner voice or conscience that guides him towards good deeds and positive outcomes
Speaking with the angel that only he can see
His intuition is personal and exclusive to him
You'd say he's so helpless
Others may perceive him as vulnerable
But what about you?
Consider your own actions and attitude before judging him
You don't pull the string
You are not controlling or directing his actions
Don't you know anything?
Do not underestimate his intelligence or moral compass
Leave him alone, let him be
Do not try to change him or impose your beliefs on him
Would you teach him 'bout heaven?
If you influence him, would it be to help him grow his spirituality?
Would you show him how to love the earth?
If you influence him, would it be to help him learn how to be in harmony with nature and the environment?
Would you poison him with prejudice
If you influence him, would it be to introduce him to negative and discriminatory beliefs?
From the moment of his birth?
Would you start poisoning his mindset right from the beginning of his life?
He in the name of love
He acts based on his affection for others
He in the blood of lamb
He shows sweet and harmless behavior
He that never lays blame
He possesses an accountability trait, rather than blaming others for any mishap
He don't even know his name
He is still searching for his real identity and purpose in life
That spoke to you and me
His intuition reflects a universal guidance that is accessible by all humankind
Oh do you remember?
Do you recall your own moments of guidance by your moral voice?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONALD ELDON SEXSMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind