Video hit Sarah McLachlan

Sarah McLachlan - Angel

Angel (sometimes mis-titled as "In the Arms of the Angel" or simply "Arms of the Angel") is a song by Sarah McLachlan that originally appeared on her 1997 album Surfacing.

As McLachlan explained on VH1 Storytellers, the song is about the Smashing Pumpkins touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who overdosed on heroin and died in 1996.

"Angel" was McLachlan's second consecutive top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, debuting at number twelve, and then jumping to the top ten the following week, before peaking at number four. It remained at the top ten for nineteen weeks, and for twenty-nine weeks in the top 100. "Angel" was the eighteenth most successful song of 1999.

"Angel" was one of the first songs written for Surfacing. McLachlan said that writing it was easy, "a real joyous occasion." It was inspired by articles that she read in Rolling Stone about musicians turning to heroin to cope with the pressures of the music industry and subsequently overdosing.

She said that she identified with the feelings that might lead someone to use heroin: "I've been in that place where you've messed up and you're so lost that you don't know who you are anymore, and you're miserable—and here's this escape route. I've never done heroin, but I've done plenty of other things to escape."

She said that the song is about "trying not to take responsibility for other people's problems and trying to love yourself at the same time".

The song has had enduring popularity. It is often used to highlight emotional scenes on television shows, and has been featured in a number of soundtracks (including the film City of Angels and TV's Alias, Cold Case, Dawson's Creek, Early Edition, Felicity, General Hospital, and The Pretender). In addition, it is also used as a song of comfort and healing, most often following tragic events such as the April 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks. Furthermore, a large number of video tributes to loved ones uploaded by YouTube users have been set to this song.

On July 2, 2005, McLachlan performed this song at Live 8 in Philadelphia with Josh Groban. She also performed the song on "Concert for Linda," dedicating it to the memory of Linda McCartney. On September 10, 2011, McLachlan performed the song to close the ceremonies at the dedication of the Flight 93 Memorial in Stonycreek Township, commemorating the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 who fought the hijackers and brought down their airplane in the September 11 attacks.

Musician Darryl McDaniels, otherwise known as D.M.C. of the hip-hop band Run-D.M.C., has said that the song saved his life.

The song has a sparse arrangement — mostly McLachlan at the piano, with subtle upright bass played by Jim Creeggan of Barenaked Ladies. It was recorded in the key of D-flat major. For live performances, it is transposed up one half-step to D major and played without the bass.

A remix of the track by Dusted appears on McLachlan's 2001 album Remixed.

A live version with Emmylou Harris appears on a Lilith Fair compilation, McLachlan's own iTunes Originals collection, and her Rarities, B-Sides and Other Stuff Volume 2 compilation.

On Sunday, November 23, 2008 Sarah McLachlan performed Angel at the American Music Awards with artist Pink.

The song made its début on the New Zealand Singles Chart on the 6 July 2009 at number 36. The appearance in the charts was attributed to the 2009 New Zealand Stars in Their Eyes grand final the week before, where Mandy Pickering of Christchurch won the final performing the song.

This song is also often played during a contestant becoming eliminated on Indonesia Mencari Bakat (Indonesian version of America's Got Talent) on TransTV.

This song was used in the final minutes of the season finale of season 3 for The Secret Life of the American Teenager as everyone discovers that Ben and Adrian's baby is stillborn.

The 2009 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie A Dog Named Christmas used this song in one scene.

Since 2007, "Angel" has been included in an advertisement for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in which McLachlan serves as the spokesperson. The song is played over video of dogs and cats in an animal shelter and is credited with helping raise millions of dollars for the ASPCA.

The song was also donated by McLachlan for Tribe of Heart's movie The Witness which depicts the awakening of conscious of a New York City construction worker with respect to the treatment of animals.

Covers

In 1998 CKBE-FM David Tyler.

Pianist/New Age artist George Winston recorded an instrumental cover of "Angel" for his 1999 album Plains.

Irish boy band Westlife included a rendition of the song on their album World of Our Own in 2001.

Canadian musician Allison Crowe covered the song on her 2003 album Tidings, and performed on the television special which accompanied it.

American Idol performer Kelly Clarkson covered this song as an early demo.[citation needed]

Mexican singer Yuridia covered the song for her 2006 second album, Habla El Corazón, in a Spanish version entitled "Estar Junto a Tí", in memory of her late brother.

Angelis covered this song in 2006 on their album Angelis

John Barrowman covered the song on his 2008 album Music, Music, Music.

Japanese singer Aoi Teshima covered the song on her second cover album, La vie en rose: I Love Cinemas, released in 2009.

"Angel" was covered by European singer Lara Fabian on her 2009 album Every Woman in Me, and performed on her tour and TV show.

Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins covered the song on her latest album Believe

David Phelps, an American gospel singer, covered the song in his 2008 album The Voice.

British a cappella vocal ensemble The King's Singers covered the song on their 2010 album Swimming over London.

The song was covered for an unreleased acoustic solo album by the late singer "Midnight" of prog-metal band, Crimson Glory.

This song was covered by Jackie Evancho in 2011 for her album Dream With Me and subsequent PBS special and concert tour.

South African artists Jakkie Louw and Charlize Berg covered this song as a tribute to cancer survivors.

Joe Sample & Randy Crawford feature this song on their No Regrets album (2008).

American Idol runner-up David Archuleta covered this song on his 2012 album Begin.

The lyrics:

Spend all your time waiting

For that second chance,

For a break that would make it okay.

There's always some reason

To feel not good enough,

And it's hard, at the end of the day.

I need some distraction,

Oh, beautiful release.

Memories seep from my veins.

Let me be empty,

Oh, and weightless,

And maybe I'll find some peace tonight.

[Chorus]

In the arms of the angel,

Fly away from here,

From this dark, cold hotel room,

And the endlessness that you fear.

You are pulled from the wreckage,

Of your silent reverie.

You're in the arms of the angel,

May you find some comfort here.

So tired of the straight line,

And everywhere you turn,

There's vultures and thieves at your back.

The storm keeps on twisting.

Keep on building the lies

That you make up for all that you lack.

It don't make no difference,

Escape one last time.

It's easier to believe in this sweet madness,

Oh, this glorious sadness,

That brings me to my knees.

[Chorus]

You're in the arms of the angel,

May you find some comfort here.