Angel On Its Way

14. ANGEL ON ITS WAY

Steve and his wife Debbie had been shopping one holiday evening in Middlesboro, Kentucky and they encountered a little old lady who they ended up giving a ride. When we were writing one day the next week at Steve’s house, Debbie called and reminded Steve about the incident, and this spare song is the result. This is the guitar track from the original demo for the song, recorded on my Composite Acoustic signature model. When we decided to do the final track, we just added Steve’s poignant vocal since the song didn’t need anything else. We’ve performed this song for two years for the “Pick One” Jams organized by Bristol, Tennessee’s Larry Gorley.

A cold and rainy night
I was feeling a March wind blowin’

The family and I, didn’t matter much where we were going
And then, from the corner of my eye
I saw as she walked by
In her ragged coat—just pushin’ a cart with her groceries all alone

Everywhere I went, it seemed that old lady was lookin’
Right at me, and her eyes told a story that no tongue could tell
How it feels to live alone, how a house just ain’t a home
She turned to go, just a little smile before she walked away

Then outside, we loaded up on our way back home
Once again, I saw her standing on the street all alone
I asked if we could help, she said, “If you don’t mind, I could sure use a ride.”

A little one-room apartment on the ragged side of town
But the feeling rushed over me as I sat her groceries down

I never got her name, not many words were spoken
But it seems to me, there’s a circle of love unbroken
In life… We’re all the same inside; we all could use a ride
You never know when you might help an angel on its way