“She Talks To Angels” by The Black Crowes

The Black Crowes aren’t a band you hear about a lot these days, considering for instance that their most-recent studio album, “Croweology”, was dropped in 2010. But back when they first came out, this rock band from Atlanta was a multi-platinum success. For example their debut LP, “Shake Your Money Maker”, has been certified platinum by the RIAA five times over. 

It is from that project that we get “She Talks to Angels”, which was released on 24 January 1990 through Def American (aka American Records), a label founded by Rick Rubin.

This song was written by Black Crowes’ frontman Chris Robinson. At the time he was backed by guitarists Rich Robinson and Jeff Cease, bassist Johnny Colt and drummer Steve Gorman. Out of the lot, only the Robinson brothers, who founded the band, are still down for the cause (alongside bassist Sven Pipien, who has been around since 1197). 

Also to note the producer of this track is George Drakoulias, who is thought of as a Rick Rubin protégé.

The Success of “She Talks to Angels”

“She Talks to Angels” was a notable international success, in that it managed to chart in a handful of countries. But by far it fared most impressively in The Black Crowes’ homeland, where it topped Billboard’s US Mainstream Rock list and reached number one on the (since-defunct) Radio & Records Album-Oriented Rock Tracks chart. 

This outing also marks the highest The Black Crowes ever reached on the US Billboard Hot 100 – where it peaked at number 30 – and as such is considered by many as their signature track.

The Lyrics

According to one of Chris Robinson’s explanations, the subject of this song was loosely inspired by a heroin-using goth girl that he knew from his hometown of the ATL. 

However, according to an earlier explanation he put forth, the narrative is entirely fictional, as he had no personal experience with “drugs and things” of the sort. Putting those two backdrops together, we will take it that he knew such a lady as described in the lyrics alright. But he probably didn’t know her that well and therefore embellished the character using his own imagination.

And what we are met with is sort of a quintessential depiction of a goth girl. These are the types of young ladies you see always wearing black clothes and ornaments, from head to toe if possible, giving off the impression that they are depressed and/or into the occult.

And so it is with the subject at hand. For instance, we can see that she is into spirituality or however you want to put it, i.e. the type of person who “keeps a lock of hair in her pocket” and “a cross around her neck”, believing in charms. Also, as indicated by the title, she claims to ‘talk to the angels’, furthermore putting forth that they “call her out by name”.

“Says she talks to the angels
She said that they call her out by her name
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
Said that they call her out by her name”

And as for the depression aspect, that isn’t spoken to directly. But what is implied in the first verse is that she’s alienated from her family, and the bridge reveals that she isn’t the romantic type. It is also shown in the second verse that she’s a recluse, as inferred due to her drug habit.

And with that said, the thesis sentiment of this piece arguably revolves around the vocalist being concerned about this girl’s wellbeing. There are certain lines present which make it sound as if the vocalist and subject are both entertaining the idea that the latter may end up ODing herself to death.

For instance, the subject alleging that ‘angels call her out by name’ may be a metaphor pointing to this lady being convinced that her death is imminent. That is to say that it’s not particularly common to hear someone who’s not some type of professional in the realm of spirituality making such claims. 

Yes, doing so may also be indicative of just how much of a drug problem she has, i.e. being so high that she’s convinced angels are speaking to her. But since the vocalist also verifies in the outro that the “angels” are indeed “call(ing) her out”, from his perspective it does sound like he’s insinuating that she may soon find herself in the afterlife.