“Evangeline” by Stephen Sanchez
Perhaps the most-interesting way of describing this piece, all lyrics considered, is as a love song with sexual innuendos. However, the former sentiment definitely takes precedence over the latter, as it’s only really the conclusion of the first verse, leading into the chorus, which reads like a sexual metaphor.
VERSE 1
The inspirational basis of “Evangeline” is a track from the 1960s titled “Honey”.
The aforementioned inspiration is partially and theoretically evident in the first verse via the utilization of the terms “Mr. Sandman” and “Mr. Jones”.
Concerning the sentiment relayed in this passage in general, as with the rest of the song, it revolves around the vocalist’s desire to be there for/with the addressee. But more specifically, considering the Sandman reference and all, he is referring to, in the very least thematically, spending time with her in bed during the night hours.
In that regard, Stephen closes out the first verse by proclaiming that he will put Evangeline “to sleep with rattling bones”. And we will take that as the most-overt sexual innuendo present in this song.
THE CHORUS
And so it is leading into the chorus. Here, the vocalist also puts forth a desire to be Evangeline’s “pillow” and “bed”. Literally, taken along with the “rattling bones” metaphor for instance, such assertions read like Sanchez inviting the addressee to sleep on top of him.
But he also states that he will be ‘holding her dreams as she lies to rest’. This is honestly a more ambiguous and symbolic statement, though one we will logically take as pointing to him wanting to grant Evangeline a heightened sense of peace.
VERSE 2
Indeed, the second verse doesn’t appear to be sex-based at all. What its lyrics primarily revolve around, concisely summarized, is the vocalist being deeply in love with the addressee.
At the conclusion of the verse, he does go off on a bit of a tangent though. This is actually the only time Stephen directly alludes to Evangeline’s feelings, implying that maybe she’s not as keen on falling in love as he is.
So now the chorus can be interpreted a bit more profoundly, as the vocalist advertising himself, if you will, assuring the ‘refusing’ Evangeline that if she does fully give Sanchez her heart, he will grant her comfort.
On that note, it should also be pointed out that there is a segment earlier in the second verse, in which the vocalist puts forth that he’s “sick of all the guessing between the two of” them, which also reads as if maybe the addressee is not as convinced concerning the validity of this romance as he is.
“EVANGELINE” ALL STARTED WITH NICK LOBEL (AND BOBBY GOLDSBORO)
Stephen Sanchez credited the conceptualization of this song to fellow co-writer Nick Lobel. The sample that served as the starting point for “Evangeline” was Nick’s idea. In the process, Sanchez also admitted that he never relied on samples before. But in this instance, he went with the flow and ended up being thoroughly edified by the experience, and the song was composed expeditiously.
To note, the aforementioned sample is of a 1968 track called “Honey” by an artist who was hot back in those days, Bobby Goldsboro.
So the other official writers of “Evangeline”, besides for Lobel and Sanchez, are Trent Dabbs and the late Bobby Russell (1940-1992). Bobby was the author of “Honey”.
Nick Lobel, a behind-the-scenes’ musician with a moderate internet presence, also produced this track.
ABOUT STEPHEN SANCHEZ
As of the release of “Evangeline” on 25 January 2023, Stephen Sanchez is just 20 years old. He began his journey in the music industry in 2020. The following year, he came out with the smash hit “Until I Found You“.
It was also in 2020 that he signed with Republic Records – the same label that backed the release of “Evangeline”. Mercury Records also supported the release of this single.
Sanchez premiered “Evangeline”, on its day of release, via a performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. That marked the first time he appeared on that program.
CONCLUSION
“Evangeline” may go off on a tangent here and there – if you want to put it like that. But sexual innuendos and allusions to addressee’s reluctance aside, this is a pretty-straightforward love song. The vocalist’s thematic emphasis, and may we also say vision, center on holding the apple of his eye, “Evangeline”, at night.
