She Talks to Angels by Black Crowes Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Mysticism of Addiction and Redemption

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Black Crowes's She Talks to Angels at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

She never mentions the word addiction
In certain company.
Yes, she’ll tell you she’s an orphan
After you meet her family.

She paints her eyes as black as night now.
Pulls those shades down tight.
Yeah, she gives me a smile when the pain comes.
The pain gonna make everything alright.

Says she talks to angels.
They call her out by her name.
Oh yeah, she talks to angels.
Says they call her out by her name.

She keeps a lock of hair in her pocket.
She wears a cross around her neck.
Yes the hair is from a little boy,
And the cross from someone she has not met, well, not yet

Says she talks to angels.
Says they all know her name.
Oh yeah, she talks to angels.
Says they call her out by her name.

She don’t know no lover,
None that I ever seen.
Yeah, to her that ain’t nothing
But to me it means, means everything.

She paints her eyes as black as night now.
Pulls those shades down tight.
Oh yeah there’s a smile when the pain comes.
Pain’s gonna make everything alright, alright yeah

Says she talks to angels.
Says they call her out by her name.
Oh yeah, angels
Call her out by her name
Oh angel,
They call her out by her name
Oh she talks to angels,
They call her out, yeah yeah
Call her out,
Don’t you know that they call her out by her name

The Black Crowes’ heartfelt ballad ‘She Talks to Angels’ strikes a chord with its raw depiction of addiction and the quest for salvation. Since its release on their 1990 debut album ‘Shake Your Money Maker,’ the song has resonated deeply with audiences, weaving a poignant story through its blues-inflected rock sound.

Like a stained glass window casting hues of understanding on an oft-misunderstood subject, ‘She Talks to Angels’ brings forth the tale of a troubled soul seeking refuge in conversations with the divine. As we peel back the layers of this complex narrative, we uncover threads of pain, mysticism, and the potent symbolisms that define this ballad as a timeless anthem.

Dancing in the Shadows of Addiction without Naming the Beast

The art of subtlety in songwriting often reveals more than direct confession ever could. ‘She Talks to Angels’ embodies this method, narrating the life of a woman entangled with addiction, mentioning everything but the addiction itself. This intentional omission adds universality to the struggle, allowing listeners of all backgrounds to find their own personal connection within the lyrics.

The line ‘She never mentions the word addiction in certain company’ serves as a stark reminder of the stigma and secrecy often surrounding the subject, solidifying the song’s relevance in the ongoing discourse on addiction’s place in society.

Orphaned by Choice: The Deep-Seated Roots of Alienation

Claiming to be an orphan despite having a family paints a picture of self-imposed exile and profound disconnection. This lyric underlines the character’s emotional estrangement from her roots as a protective mechanism—a resonant image for many grappling with their personal demons.

The orphan narrative also suggests an exploration deeper than the individual, touching on themes of societal abandonment and the yearning for a sense of belonging that remains elusive in the face of personal struggle.

Angelic Conversations: A Hidden Meaning in the Quest for Redemption

A recurring motif in the song, the woman’s communication with angels is symbolic of a plea for redemption. It’s the moment where spiritual seeking meets the harsh reality of earthly existence, forming a bridge between the tangible and intangible.

By invoking celestial beings, the lyrics suggest a heartfelt attempt to find purity and salvation amidst chaos, making ‘She Talks to Angels’ not just a song about addiction, but also about the transcendent power of faith and hope.

‘Cross from Someone She Has Not Met’: The Paradox of Faith in the Physical Realm

The lyrics are steeped in religious metaphor, from the lock of hair in her pocket to the cross around her neck. These talismans serve as totems of faith and as tangible connections to her spiritual guardians. The cross from someone ‘she has not met’ subtly insinuates a redemptive figure yet to enter her life—perhaps a comment on the ever-constant search for a savior.

This duality of acknowledging faith through physical objects echoes the very nature of any struggle with addiction—the yearning for rescue from a place of darkness, an anchor in the manifest world to the hopeful sanctum of the spirit.

Memorable Lines that Echo in the Chasm of the Soul

Certain lyrics from ‘She Talks to Angels’ stand as memorials within the minds of listeners. Phrases such as ‘Yeah, to her that ain’t nothing / But to me it means, means everything’ capture the paradox of perception in the world of addiction. To the outsider, certain behaviors seem inconsequential, but to those entwined in the addiction, the ramifications are monumental.

This exemplifies the profound subjectivity of human experience; a reminder that our judgments of another person’s plight are often ill-informed by our own relative vantages. It’s the recognition that an individual’s battle with their demons is a deeply personal and often misunderstood journey.