Backstreet Pickup
The Angels Lyrics


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(Spencer-R. Brewster-Neeson-Manning-Morley)
Welcome back, good to see you again
Heart attack, honey where you been
You went away, why' never told me where
Baby what can I say, never thought I'd care
Queen of the night you got a heart of stone
Now that you're back I can't leave you alone
Back street pick up
Back street pick up
Honey where have you been
Good to see you again
Saw your face, in a magazine
Silk and lace, honey you're obscene
Queen of the night you got a heart of stone
Now that you're back I can't leave you alone
Back street pick up
Back street pick up
Honey where have you been
Good to see you again
You hooked me in, then you raised the price




Some call it sin, I call it paradise
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Overall Meaning

The Angels' song "Backstreet Pickup" is a rock anthem that talks about a lover's return and the mixed emotions that come with it. The opening lines of the song "Welcome back, good to see you again, heart attack, honey where you been" suggests that the singer is filled with mixed emotions of excitement, surprise, and maybe even a little anger. Despite being left in the dark about the lover's whereabouts, the singer becomes emotional when the lover returns, signifying that the person still has a hold over him/her.


The song talks about the conflicting emotions that come when faced with the return of an obsessive lover. The lyrics "Queen of the night, you got a heart of stone, now that you're back, I can't leave you alone," suggest that the singer has a sense of helplessness about his/her attraction to the returning lover despite knowing and acknowledging that the person is bad for them. The chorus of the song "Back street pick up, back street pick up, honey where have you been, good to see you again" is a shoutout to the lover returning to their old ways, being a backstreet pick up, and resuming their relationship, much to the singer's dismay.


Overall, the song is a declaration of being caught up in the toxic cycle of falling for someone who is not good for you and being unable to resist them when they come back. It shows the power of attraction and how people can become addicted to those who are not good for them.


Line by Line Meaning

Welcome back, good to see you again
Greeting someone who's been gone for a while and expressing pleasure to see them again


Heart attack, honey where you been
Expressing surprise and excitement upon seeing the person again, with a touch of humorous exaggeration


You went away, why' never told me where
Mild reproach for not being informed of the person's departure, mixed with curiosity about their whereabouts


Baby what can I say, never thought I'd care
Confessing a previously unknown level of emotional attachment or interest in the person


Queen of the night you got a heart of stone
Describing the person in somewhat mythical or romanticized terms, with a hint of danger or aloofness


Now that you're back I can't leave you alone
Expressing desire or need for the person's company, with a suggestion of obsession or infatuation


Back street pick up
Repeating the title of the song, which refers to a clandestine or casual encounter with the person


Honey where have you been
Asking again about the person's absence, with a term of endearment that may imply a closer relationship


Saw your face, in a magazine
Explaining how the person came to the singer's attention, as if by chance or coincidence


Silk and lace, honey you're obscene
Complimenting or admiring the person's appearance, with a hint of rebellious or risqué attitude


You hooked me in, then you raised the price
Suggesting that the person led the singer on or manipulated them, perhaps referencing a past experience


Some call it sin, I call it paradise
Defending or justifying the person's actions or lifestyle, with a suggestion of personal preference or defiance




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: BERNARD PATRICK NEESON, JAMES LEONARD MORLEY, RICK BREWSTER, ROBERT SPENCER, TERRY MANNING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@damienluxford4480

Such a tight song. That dropped cigarette scene is incredibly cool. And sad. I miss Doc. Love this.

@geoffwebber8317

still got the memories mate good on ya ☯️🙏

@neilcampbell9740

Love watching Brett Eccles drinking Coffee while playing the Drums! Love the Angels! RIP DOC!

@bclmax

yep good stick toss also

@ninaballerina4172

RIP Doc Neeson.  Thanks for the memories and the music.  Sad day.

@geoffwebber8317

he is at peace mate doc would be rocking and proud of your tribute and respect god bless you mate ☯️🙏

@rocketnewell6651

heard a story that this song is about a guitar part or an item called a lip stick pick up....hence the song was written....its an absolute belter of a song and is one of the angels most underrated songs

@MrPizza063

i tend to think that this song is a follow up of sorts to the 1980 song NO SECRETS what do you think??

@simonredshaw3386

I was emergency security for the band in north Perth west oz a few years back n got to have a few bevvies with the fellas 😎

@AJRiddock

One of my favorite Angels song!!!

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