Angry Love
Rory McLeod Lyrics


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While a humble man works with unquenchable faith
Unpreachable in words
A silent man acts, he doesn't speak
And the deed is done and never heard
The unseen sings from him
But words are not enough
We sing with a hunger, you can call it an anger
But we sing with an angry love

We sing with a hunger
You can call it an anger
But we sing with a hunger
We sing with an angry love
We sing with a hunger
You can call it an anger
But we sing with a hunger
We sing with an angry love

We sing a song of struggle for rising slaves
For the one who's hit because they never obey
For the woman's struggle against great odds
For those fools who are trying to be gods
A song for the mother's love for a child
And for the tamed who fights to be wild
For the smell of the earth, the flight of the bird
And for its song in the trees
For the sun to fall on, the seeds to grow from
A song for the commonest weeds

We sing with a hunger
You can call it an anger
But we sing with a hunger
We sing with an angry love
We sing with a hunger
You can call it an anger
But we sing with a hunger
We sing with an angry love

Hunger, hunger, hunger, hunger, hunger
Anger, anger, anger, anger, anger
Hunger, hunger, hunger, hunger, hunger
Anger, anger, anger

We sing a song with calm gaze or flashing eyes
That serves no-one, that laughs and cries
A song of pensive thought, a song of games
Or for a solitary walk down a lonely lane
Well he never sang of manly life
'Cause he feels like he's still a child
And he never sang of peaceful life
'Cause this life drove him wild

And we sing with a hunger
You can call it an anger
But we sing with a hunger
We sing with an angry love
We sing with a hunger
You can call it an anger




But we sing with a hunger
We sing with an angry love

Overall Meaning

Rory McLeod’s song “Angry Love” is a jubilant tribute to the power of music, with a message that resonates beyond its celebratory surface. The lyrics describe the voices of those who remain unheard, who speak through actions and gestures rather than words; the silent man who quietly accomplishes great things, or the humble man who works tirelessly with unyielding faith. McLeod juxtaposes these muted sounds with music, which materializes where words fall short, adding aural depth and complexity to the voiceless emotions we harbor. The angry love that the song speaks of is, therefore, a hunger - a protest against injustices or inequalities, which music has the power to channel and express.


Musically, the song is a rhythmic extravaganza: McLeod’s voice and the percussion join forces, creating an infectious beat that is impossible not to move to. The lyrics are repetitive, emphasizing the power of the hunger or anger that is being sung about. The song touches upon various struggles, from those of marginalized groups to the nature of human existence. Ultimately, the song encourages us to find our own voice, to sing with the same hunger and anger that the song embodies.


Line by Line Meaning

While a humble man works with unquenchable faith
A description of a person who is humble, hardworking, and never stops believing in achieving their goals.


Unpreachable in words
Despite their great efforts, this person is not skilled in expressing themselves verbally.


A silent man acts, he doesn't speak
Instead of talking, this person lets their actions speak for themselves.


And the deed is done and never heard
They accomplish amazing feats, but no one ever knows about it.


The unseen sings from him
This person has an inner passion and drive that motivates them.


But words are not enough
Despite their inability to communicate properly, they still feel a need to express themselves.


We sing with a hunger, you can call it an anger
The person might appear angry or intense, but really they are motivated by a deep passion and desire.


We sing a song of struggle for rising slaves
They use their voice to raise awareness of issues that affect the less fortunate, such as slavery and oppression.


For the one who's hit because they never obey
They want to draw attention to the plight of people who are punished for speaking out against injustices.


For the woman's struggle against great odds
The person wants to support women who face numerous obstacles in their fight for equality.


For those fools who are trying to be gods
The person also wants to speak out against individuals who think they are above everyone else.


A song for the mother's love for a child
They want to celebrate the selfless love a mother has for their child.


And for the tamed who fights to be wild
The person wants to encourage people to embrace their wild side and be true to themselves.


For the smell of the earth, the flight of the bird
They also want to celebrate the beauty of nature and the simple joys in life.


And for its song in the trees
The person wants to give voice to the harmonious sounds of nature.


For the sun to fall on, the seeds to grow from
They want to express gratitude for the things that sustain life.


A song for the commonest weeds
Even the most overlooked and neglected things in life are worthy of being celebrated.


We sing a song with calm gaze or flashing eyes
They use their voice to express all types of emotions- both quiet and intense.


That serves no-one, that laughs and cries
This person makes music that is not meant for any specific person, but rather for the sake of self-expression.


A song of pensive thought, a song of games
They make music that is introspective, as well as playful.


Or for a solitary walk down a lonely lane
They also make music that provides comfort for people who are feeling alone and isolated.


Well he never sang of manly life
The person never glorifies toxic masculinity or traditional gender roles in their music.


'Cause he feels like he's still a child
They maintain a youthful and adventurous spirit in their music and in their life.


And he never sang of peaceful life
They never glorify a life that is free of conflict or difficulties because they know that life is never that simple.


'Cause this life drove him wild
They have experienced hardship and struggles, which fuel their passion for making music and speaking out against injustice.


Hunger, hunger, hunger, hunger, hunger
The person is driven by a hunger and desire to make an impact in the world.


Anger, anger, anger, anger, anger
While they might appear angry or intense, their true motivation comes from a place of intense passion.




Contributed by Aria C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

John Moffatt

love love love this tune. rory's a genius AND a gentlemen.

blowfish3

Thanks for this. I bought this album at the Winnipeg Folk Festival in 1989, but it melted in the back of the car.

Tilly tot

I have it on an album,I just can't remember what it's called.love Rory so much.he is playing at a small festie in the UK in a couple of weeks

dannyinthedarkness

Yes! That's right. Well done you! Thank you so much. And for the link, too. :) Now I need to find a copy I can buy, and my life will be complete! I don't know if it's on the current CD, but at least now I have the song name I can begin looking. You have no idea how happy you've made me! *scurries off to start searching* Thank you again, and again. :)

dannyinthedarkness

I had this album on tape way back when. I downloaded it recently, and the song about his sister is missing from the download. Is -anyone- old enough to know what I'm talking about? It was about his sister going dancing at a local dance-hall. I can't remember what it's called. It's not 'Lonely Dancer'. I'd like to know if it's missing from the CD as well as the download. Can anyone help? I think it's awesome that Rory is touring again. Hope to see you all at future gigs. :)

dannyinthedarkness

He's been playing the UK a lot over the last couple of years. So glad he's touring again! We saw him at 'Beautiful Days' the year before last (The Levellers put the fest on, it's a good one!) and he played near us (Cornwall) two weeks later. So spoiled to see him twice in one month! I've caught a few of his gigs since. Which fest are you thinking of? I ask because if it's not sold out I might go. We're going to Beautiful Days again this year but he's not listed as playing there yet.

dannyinthedarkness

'The Wind Is Getting Stronger' I love all Rory's songs, but the ones about his friends and his family always make me feel as though I know the person he's singing about. I think that's a very rare talent, and it's a beautiful way to keep a person alive in our hearts for ever. I (obviously) never knew his grandma, but I will never forget her, either. RIP Rory's Grandma Rory, thank you for sharing such an amazing person with us. It's a wonderful gift, and we appreciate it so very much. :)

dannyinthedarkness

No! Oh, I'm so sad! This is the 'lonely dancer' song about his friend at school. There's one specifically about his sister. I'll find it and when I do, I'll post it. It talks about how his sister used to go dancing, and how she cried when they demolished the dance-hall, and how she used to keep her dates waiting. Like all of the songs about his family it's very sweet and very touching, and it makes you feel almost like you know them. Thank you so much for trying, though. I appreciate it. :)

Tilly tot

Oh he's playing at the Horsedrawn festival.it's near Henley in arden.

dannyinthedarkness

Ran out of room in the last post. Just wanted to make that clear I know this is called 'Pauline's Song', but I've also heard it referred to as 'Lonely Dancer'. I'll keep searching. :) Thanks for all your help. Any more ideas would be greatly appreciated. Doesn't seem to be included on the CD so it would have to be someone old enough to remember or have owned the original tape. I may email him and ask. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again. :)

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