The Black Angels are a psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in … Read Full Bio ↴The Black Angels are a psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in May 2004. Their name derives from the Velvet Underground song "The Black Angel's Death Song". The band consists of Alex Maas (vocals, guitar), Christian Bland (guitar), Kyle Hunt (keyboards), Nate Ryan (bass) and Stephanie Bailey (drums).

Hannah Levin's review of the Black Angels album, Passover, described them as "Walking in the shadows cast by Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized mastermind Jason Pierce" and compared them to The Warlocks and Black Mountain, also invoking "dirges" reminiscent of both The Velvet Underground and the 13th Floor Elevators. The band's icon is a stylized image of Nico.

In December 2007, the group announced on their blog that their second album would be released in Spring of 2008. In March 2008 a release date of May 13th was announced for their second album, Directions to See a Ghost. Their third album was "Phosphene Dream" released in 2010. This record is slowly starting to give Black Angels international recognition.

http://www.theblackangels.com/

Estimate
The Black Angels Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you left at Spring
I thought I lost you
Never felt quite the same
Never let them shoot you down
They're killing our children
And I'm being protective
Well I am raising my height, all done
And I am losing sensation for you now

They searched our home again
I think they're on to something
I'll own my own mistake
Remember keep your head tucked down
It's kind of seductive
The handle the [?]
Never gonna lose you darling
Never let 'em shoot us down
Never gonna lose you darling
Never let 'em shoot us down

All we have is us and you left me
Everyone we know is converting
I would love to stay here
In this town
But they poisoned our water
(Nothing ever leaves, it just dies)
And I'm into protecting now [?]
(Remember when we never have to hide)
It's kind of seductive

Oh I
Will never shoot you down
Oh I
No I
Will never shoot you down
No I
No I
I will never shoot you down
No I

No I
I will never shoot you down

Overall Meaning

The Black Angels’ song Estimate seems to be a commentary on the state of the world and the need for protection in uncertain times. The lyrics mention a person leaving in the spring, likely referring to a lover or close friend. The singer expresses feeling lost without this person, and how things are not the same. They refer to a feeling of protection and the need to raise their height, suggesting they are feeling exposed and need to defend themselves. The lyrics then shift to reflect a growing unease with the world around them. There are references to authorities searching their home and the fear that they might be on to something. There is also mention of the ongoing danger posed by those who are killing children. Despite all of this, the singer pledges to never let anyone shoot them down, and to protect those they care about.

There is a sense of foreboding and urgency present throughout the song, and the lyrics seem to suggest that the world is becoming a more dangerous and threatening place. The repeated refrain of “Never gonna lose you darling, never let 'em shoot us down” speaks to a desire to hold onto what is important in the face of adversity. Despite the difficult circumstances presented in the song, there is a sense of defiance and strength in the lyrics, with the singer refusing to be cowed by the dangers around them.

Line by Line Meaning

When you left at Spring
When you left me in the springtime

I thought I lost you
I thought I had lost you forever

Never felt quite the same
I was never the same after you left

Never let them shoot you down
I will protect you from harm

They're killing our children
They are harming innocent people

And I'm being protective
I am taking steps to ensure your safety

Well I am raising my height, all done
I am becoming stronger and more resilient

And I am losing sensation for you now
I am no longer feeling the same way about you

They searched our home again
They violated our privacy

I think they're on to something
I suspect they know something

I'll own my own mistake
I will take responsibility for my actions

Remember keep your head tucked down
Stay low to avoid danger

It's kind of seductive
It's hard to resist

The handle the [?]
I'm not sure what this line means

Never gonna lose you darling
I will always protect and cherish you

Never let 'em shoot us down
I won't let anyone harm us

All we have is us and you left me
We only have each other and now you're gone

Everyone we know is converting
People around us are changing and we feel isolated

I would love to stay here
I wish we could stay where we are

In this town
In this place we call home

But they poisoned our water
People have harmed our community

(Nothing ever leaves, it just dies)
Things never truly leave us, they just change

And I'm into protecting now [?]
I am focused on keeping us safe now

(Remember when we never have to hide)
There was a time when we didn't have to keep secrets and hide

Oh I Will never shoot you down
I will never harm you

No I Will never shoot you down
I will never hurt you

No I No I I will never shoot you down
I will always protect you

Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Jacob Garcia, Kyle Hunt Geary, Christian Bland, Alexander Maas, Stephanie Bailey

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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