The band consists of singer-songwriter and guitarist Ted Leo, guitarist James Canty, bassist Marty 'Violence' Key, and drummer Chris Wilson. After his previous band, Chisel, broke up in the late 1990s, Ted recorded the Tej Leo(?) Rx Pharmacists [sic] album in 1999, followed by the Treble in Trouble EP in 2000.
His next album, 2001's The Tyranny of Distance, quickly gained him a cult following and critical praise. Dave Lerner and Chris Wilson became permanent members of the band during the tour that year, as did keyboard player Dorien Garry. James Canty (ex-Nation of Ulysses, Make-Up, etc.) also played with the band during this time.
The album Hearts of Oak followed in 2003, which also saw the release of the concert film Dirty Old Town and the Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead EP. Garry left the band before the recording of 2004's Shake the Sheets, which has led them into their current setup as a power trio. The new record featured fewer obscure references and more overt political content than his previous releases did, though his music has always been known for its engagement with politics.
The band tours extensively around North America. Leo is a strict vegan. His brother Chris Leo is also a singer/songwriter and a member of The Lapse. Ted Leo graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1994 with a degree in English.
The Angels' Share
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Lyrics
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Oh always same, oh, nothing changed, oh, urge to bite the hand
Withholding on your promise to the air
Will only lead to something bad, I swear
You can't escape the Angels' Share.
Down again-it seems a losing fight
Yet, down again, I sit, to try to write
Or melodies to help a girl pay rent
(We saved and saved, only to find them spent).
When oh, the long road leads me to your door
Feed me food and heal my health and offer me your floor
There, you'll find me lying in the morn.
If I don't wake, you've got to let me go on.
Let me go on my way.
Do try.
Get by.
Because on and on, the tides are going to come
As sure enough, they'll leave again as one
As you and I, we will or won't be here
As sure enough, the Angels take their share, but where?
I'm not so sure I think it's fair.
And I'm not so sure I think they care...
In the song, "The Angels' Share" by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, the lyrics depict a sense of loneliness, disappointment, and feeling trapped in one's circumstances while also alluding to the inevitability of fate. The opening lines suggest a sense of disappointment in the state of affairs - a burden on the land where nothing has really changed, yet the urge to take action arises. The refrain, "You can't escape the Angels' Share," likens life to a whiskey-making process where a portion of the distilled spirit evaporates into the air - beyond human control. Similarly, we cannot escape the forces of fate that are beyond our control.
The song's verses oscillate between feelings of defeat, hopelessness, and determination to keep going. In the second verse, the singer is trying to write a song or a letter to a president - an act of trying to change things and attempting to make a difference. Still, the effort seems futile. Yet, the chorus that follows brings a small semblance of hope - to keep trying to get by despite the odds. The final verse refers to the unpredictability of life - where one can never be certain where fate will take them. The closing lines suggest the singer's lack of faith in the forces that govern life, which could be attributed to either God or fate itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, lonely day, oh, led astray, oh, burden on the land
Expressing a feeling of loneliness and being misled, recognizing oneself as a burden on the earth.
Oh always same, oh, nothing changed, oh, urge to bite the hand
Feeling that everything is stagnant and unmoving, while having a desire to rebel against authority.
Withholding on your promise to the air
Breaking a promise, and feeling guilty for it.
Will only lead to something bad, I swear
Believing that not keeping a promise will lead to negative consequences.
You can't escape the Angels' Share.
The unavoidable fact that everyone will eventually face death.
Down again-it seems a losing fight
Feeling hopeless after experiencing defeat.
Yet, down again, I sit, to try to write
Despite feeling hopeless, attempting to create something meaningful and worthwhile.
An open letter to a President
Writing a letter to those in a position of power in hopes of making a change.
Or melodies to help a girl pay rent
Writing music to help provide financial stability for someone in need.
(We saved and saved, only to find them spent).
Despite careful financial planning, money still seems to disappear.
When oh, the long road leads me to your door
Traveling a long distance to reach a particular destination or person.
Feed me food and heal my health and offer me your floor
Asking for sustenance and care from the person being addressed.
There, you'll find me lying in the morn.
Expecting to stay the night or rest for a while.
If I don't wake, you've got to let me go on.
If death comes during sleep, accepting it as a natural part of life.
Let me go on my way.
Asking to be allowed to continue one's journey, whether through life or death.
Do try.
An encouraging statement, urging the person being addressed to do their best.
Get by.
Advising someone to make do with what they have, even if it is not ideal.
Because on and on, the tides are going to come
Acknowledging that life will continue to change and move forward, like the ebb and flow of the ocean tides.
As sure enough, they'll leave again as one
Recognizing that change is cyclical, and that what comes will eventually go.
As you and I, we will or won't be here
Accepting that one's existence is temporary, and that they may or may not be present in the future.
As sure enough, the Angels take their share, but where?
Contemplating where life goes after death, and questioning what happens to the soul.
I'm not so sure I think it's fair.
Expressing doubt about the fairness of life and death.
And I'm not so sure I think they care...
Wondering if those in charge of the universe truly care about humanity and their well-being.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: THEODORE F LEO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind