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.
On The Mountain
The Angels of Light Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Words cut into stone
Let it clear what remains
Let it scatter their bones
Let there be you
Walking a line on the plain
Let it be you
Getting up again and again
All that you have replaced
Without judgment or fear
With no intention left to waste
Just let it be you
Through the strength and pain of rejoice
Just let it be you
Tracking the years down through your voice
Deep and loud
Clear and true
Let it be you
And your lover she cried
To see you there on the farm
Spinning again, defeated
Still abused and still a boy
But I’m annoyed and ashamed
At the sound of your tenor voice
Winding through you from someplace else
Some place where you never had a single choice
So let it be you
That comes through this town with a sword
Let it be you
That levels the rich and lies down with the poor
Let it be you
That draws a clear line back through time
Let it be you
Who when beaten will always rise
Let it be you
Who will comfort us that need
It is just you
That is remembered and known by me
With love, goodbye
If a man could never die
Then let it be you
The Angels of Light's song "On The Mountain" is a powerful and emotional piece that encourages personal empowerment and growth while also acknowledging the struggles that come with trying to find one's place in the world. The opening lines, "Let the wind wear away words cut into stone, Let it clear what remains, Let it scatter their bones," suggest that it's time to let go of past hurts and grudges, to allow the natural forces of time and age to smooth over the rough edges and bring clarity.
The following lines, "Let there be you, Walking a line on the plain, Let it be you, Getting up again and again," foreground agency and resilience, especially in the face of adversity. The repeated refrain "Let it be you" emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and finding a sense of purpose and meaning, even when the future seems uncertain or daunting.
The song also touches on longing and nostalgia, with lines like "And your lover she cried, To see you there on the farm, Spinning again, defeated, Still abused and still a boy." These lines are bittersweet and poignant, evoking a sense of loss and regret even as they hint at the possibility of hope and redemption. Ultimately, however, the song is about celebrating the power and resilience of the human spirit, and the lyrics convey this message with sincerity and conviction.
Line by Line Meaning
Let the wind wear away
Allow the force of nature to erase the words etched in stone
Words cut into stone
Messages that have been permanently inscribed
Let it clear what remains
Allow the wind to remove what no longer serves a purpose
Let it scatter their bones
Let the past be left behind and forgotten
Let there be you
Allow the essence of your being to exist
Walking a line on the plain
Living a straightforward and honest life
Let it be you
Allow your true self to shine through
Getting up again and again
Persevering through hardships and challenges
There you contain
You possess within yourself
All that you have replaced
Everything that you have let go of and moved on from
Without judgment or fear
Free of criticism or anxiety
With no intention left to waste
With a clear and focused purpose
Through the strength and pain of rejoice
Experiencing both the pleasure and pain of life
Tracking the years down through your voice
Your voice serving as a record of your journey through time
Deep and loud
Resounding and impactful
Clear and true
Honest and authentic
And your lover she cried
Your significant other felt emotional
To see you there on the farm
Witnessing you in a vulnerable state
Spinning again, defeated
Repeating the same negative patterns and feeling defeated
Still abused and still a boy
Continuing to feel the effects of past trauma and feeling immature
But I’m annoyed and ashamed
Feeling disappointed and guilty
At the sound of your tenor voice
Triggered by a certain aspect of yourself
Winding through you from someplace else
Coming from a deeper part of yourself
Some place where you never had a single choice
A place of circumstance and lack of control
That comes through this town with a sword
A force for change and revolution
That levels the rich and lies down with the poor
Bringing equality and compassion to all
That draws a clear line back through time
Recognizing the impact of the past on the present
Who when beaten will always rise
Unwavering resilience and strength in the face of adversity
Who will comfort us that need
Being a source of comfort for those who require it
It is just you
You are the only one who holds this power and responsibility
That is remembered and known by me
Your legacy and impact will be remembered by me
With love, goodbye
A farewell filled with warmth and affection
If a man could never die
If there was eternal life
Then let it be you
You are worthy of perpetual existence
Contributed by Gianna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.