Angels of Light include many New York City collaborators, including Dana Schechter of Bee and Flower, Kid Congo Powers of The Cramps, Larry Mullins aka Toby Dammit, Bliss Blood of The Moonlighters and Pain Teens, Thor Harris of Shearwater, and most recently the Brooklyn band Akron/Family.
Gira talks about the Angels project :
I write the songs on acoustic guitar, then gather musicians and friends, and build up the orchestrations with them in the studio and in live performances. I guide the process, but solicit their creative contributions actively. Each recording contains the contributions of an ever-changing plethora of amazing musicians, whom I thank here heartily!
After many years (too many to comfortably contemplate!) of dwelling on "sonic overload" with Swans, I now concentrate on augmenting the songs I write with orchestrations that support the basic song, rather than the sound itself taking over.
My goal is to achieve the same sense of magic I experienced as a child listening to Burle Ives recordings of Brer Rabbit and other such marvels, including the early Disney children's records I listened to long ago.
I view the arrangements as little films created to make a context for the words and voice, so that one can drift off into the world the music creates. I produce the Angels recordings, and the production of the recordings is as important to me as the songs themselves.
Most of the instruments used in the recordings are acoustic, but not all. Electric guitars, bass and drums etc., are sometimes used (as well as an occasional electronic sound, or loop), but I intentionally steer clear of a "Rock" sound. It doesn't interest me at all any more.
However, I have no particular fealty to "The Song" as if it were some sacred codex. On the other hand, just sitting around my house, writing these things, and finally coming up with a statement that I think makes sense, I want to bring them to life as much as possible, in new and challenging ways for both myself and you, so I always strive to present them in a fresh and interesting context.
For this reason, I'm always changing the sonic approach from record to record.
All Angels of Light albums have been released on Michael Gira's label Young God Records.
The name Angels of Light was first used by the spiritual theater group founded by drag queen Hibiscus of The Cockettes. It is not known whether Gira's group was named in homage to Hibiscus's similarly metaphysically-minded group.
New York Girls
The Angels of Light Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scattered crimson pearls.
You touch me like you do,
You fall in love with fools.
I saw you in the night,
Your silver rings they shined.
The music was too loud,
New York Girls,
The crimson liquid folds.
New York Girls,
Please give me what you hold...
I'm sorry that I failed,
I'm sorry for the past.
I'm sorry that I touched,
The place that you protected.
New York Girls,
I'll watch you from afar.
New York Girls,
I'll worship what you are.
New York Girls,
I'm happy that I saw,
New York Girls,
How cruel and pure you are.
New York Girls,
The scent of your incense,
New York Girls,
Is drifting through my head...
Run through the city,
Come to me.
Run through the forest,
Come back to me.
Run from fear, run from fear...
Come back, come back...
Don't do that...
The song "New York Girls" by The Angels of Light is a ballad that tells the story of a man's infatuation with women in New York City. The first verse describes the women as scattered crimson pearls, an imagery that represents their allure and mystery. The man acknowledges his own vulnerability to their charm as he sings "You touch me like you do, You fall in love with fools." In the second verse, the man reminisces about a specific encounter with one of the New York Girls whom he saw one night wearing silver rings that shone. Despite the loud music, he felt close to her and even kissed the crowd as he was kneeling. However, he acknowledges his mistake and apologizes for touching "the place that you protected."
The chorus, which is repeated several times throughout the song, speaks of the New York Girls' power and the man's fascination with them. He admires their purity and cruelty, and he is happy that he had the chance to see them. He also mentions their incense, which is a symbol of their seductive aroma that still lingers in his memory.
The last lines of the song invite the New York Girls to come to him, either through the city or the forest, and they end with the plea "Come back, come back..." The final line, "Don't do that," is somewhat ambiguous, but it may indicate the man's awareness that his infatuation is dangerous and could lead him to make mistakes again.
Line by Line Meaning
New York Girls,
Referring to the women of New York City
Scattered crimson pearls.
Describing the women as beautiful and precious
You touch me like you do,
The women have a powerful effect on the singer
You fall in love with fools.
The women often end up with unwise or inappropriate partners
I saw you in the night,
The singer often sees the women at night
Your silver rings they shined.
The women are adorned with shiny jewelry
The music was too loud,
The environment the singer is in is noisy and chaotic
I kneeled and kissed the crowd.
The singer feels overwhelmed and out of place
The crimson liquid folds.
Referring to the women's menstrual cycle
Please give me what you hold...
Asking the women to share their experiences and secrets with the singer
I'm sorry that I failed,
The singer has made mistakes and has regrets
I'm sorry for the past.
The singer has done things that they are not proud of
I'm sorry that I touched,
The singer may have violated the trust of one of the women
The place that you protected.
A space that was important to one of the women
I'll watch you from afar.
The singer will admire the women from a distance
I'll worship what you are.
The singer holds the women in high regard
I'm happy that I saw,
The singer is grateful for the experience of seeing the women
How cruel and pure you are.
The women are complex and have both harsh and gentle qualities
The scent of your incense,
Referring to the women's perfume or other scent
Is drifting through my head...
The singer is thinking about the women and their impact on him
Run through the city,
The singer is encouraging the women to move freely and confidently
Come to me.
The singer wants the women to come to him
Run through the forest,
The singer is continuing to encourage the women to be free
Come back to me.
The singer wants the women to return to him
Run from fear, run from fear...
The singer is urging the women to be brave and not be held back by fear
Come back, come back...
The singer wants the women to return and stay with him
Don't do that...
The singer is cautioning the women to be careful of their actions
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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