Angel of Harlem by U2 Lyrics Meaning – A Dive into the Soulful Tribute to Jazz Legends
Lyrics
When we touched the ground at JFK
Snow was melting on the ground
On BLS I heard the sound
Of an angel
New York, like a Christmas tree
Tonight this city belongs to me
Angel
Soul love, this love won’t let me go
So long, angel of Harlem
Birdland on fifty three
The street sounds like a symphony
We got John Coltrane and a love supreme
Miles, and she’s got to be an angel
Lady Day got diamond eyes
She sees the truth behind the lies
Angel
Soul love this love won’t let me go
So long angel of Harlem
Angel of Harlem
She says it’s heart, heart and soul
Yeah yeah (yeah)
Yeah yeah (right now)
Blue light on the avenue
God knows they got to you
An empty glass, the lady sings
Eyes swollen like a bee sting
Blinded you lost your way
Through the side streets and the alleyway
Like a star exploding in the night
Falling to the city in broad daylight
An angel in Devil’s shoes
Salvation in the blues
You never looked like an angel
Yeah yeah angel of Harlem
Angel angel of Harlem
Angel angel of Harlem
Angel angel of Harlem
Angel angel of Harlem
The rhapsodic streak that U2’s ‘Angel of Harlem’ paints across the soundscape is more than a mere song; it’s a soaring tribute to the jazz greats and the spirit of a city that never sleeps. Released in 1988, this track from their album ‘Rattle and Hum’ is a melodious bow to the culture and history of African American music and its icons, with every line echoing the influence these legends have on the genre.
Yet ‘Angel of Harlem’ is no straightforward ode. It weaves a narrative that’s as much about place as it is about people, laden with emotional clarity and cultural resonances. It’s a snapshot capturing the essence of New York and a story of lost souls seeking salvation in the city’s chaotic embrace.
A Jazz Narrative in a Rock ‘n’ Roll World
At first glance, U2’s ‘Angel of Harlem’ is a masterclass in genre-fusion—a Rock band’s embrace of Jazz. The opening horns signal a departure from U2’s archetypal sound, ushering in an upbeat tempo that complements the song’s vibrant storytelling. The homage is palpable as it name-drops jazz luminaries like John Coltrane and Billie Holiday, painting a picture of a time when music was both revolutionary and healing.
The dedication to these musicians is deepened by the song’s arrangements. ‘Angel of Harlem’ bridges the gap between rock’s rawness and jazz’s improvisational fluidity, creating a space where U2’s signature style intertwines with the classic elements of jazz, culminating in a track that honors its roots while forging new ground.
Unveiling the Metaphorical ‘Angel’ of the Big Apple
The ‘Angel of Harlem,’ with its celestial imagery, is as elusive as it is evocative. It represents purity and goodness found in the most unexpected of places. As Bono’s vocals evoke the flurry and mystique of New York City, there’s an insinuation that the ‘angel’ is a metaphor for the artistry and humanity seen amidst the metropolis’ often gritty reality.
Could this ‘angel’ be the soul of Harlem itself? The area’s historical significance as the center of the Harlem Renaissance—a rebirth of African American arts—is echoed in the song’s lyrical appreciation for the cultural pillars who found their voices in the streets of New York.
Dazzling Diamond Eyes: The Legacy of Lady Day
Billie Holiday—or ‘Lady Day,’ as she was endearingly known—is immortalized with ‘diamond eyes’ that ‘see the truth behind the lies.’ The angelic association with Holiday pays homage to her profound impact on music and society, her voice a vessel of emotional depth and stark reality.
Through its lyrics, ‘Angel of Harlem’ captures Holiday’s complex life; her beauty and her pain, her artistry, and her tragedy. In doing so, the song isn’t just a musical number but a lifeline connecting the listener to the enduring spirit of one of jazz’s most iconic figures.
‘Salvation in the Blues’ – The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Beneath the surface of a joyous melody, ‘Angel of Harlem’ carries a somber undercurrent. The reference to ‘Devil’s shoes’ and finding ‘salvation in the blues’ speaks to the duality of the human experience—the search for redemption amidst suffering, and the cathartic power of music to heal a wounded spirit.
The lyrics suggest that the blues, often associated with sorrow and hardship, can also be a source of uplift and salvation. This dichotomy mirrors the lives of the jazz icons celebrated in the song, whose musical brilliance often coexisted with personal demons and social obstacles.
Illuminating the Path with Memorable Lines
‘Angel of Harlem’ is rich with lines that resonate long after the song ends, but none more so than ‘Birdland on fifty three, the street sounds like a symphony.’ It’s a tribute to Birdland, the famed jazz club on 53rd Street, and by extension to the music that once filled the air—music that was as intricate and moving as a symphony.
Moreover, the line ‘Blinded you lost your way, through the side streets and the alleyway’ is a poetic expression of the disorientation that the city can impose, and the personal misdirection that can occur amidst its chaos. Yet, there is always music—an ‘angel’—guiding the way home, back to the sanctuary of rhythm and soul.
