Seven Spanish Angels is a song which encapsulates a full range of americana imagery – doomed love, defiance, outlaws, faith, mystery and death – all set in an undescribed location that calls up the settings for Cormac McCarthy’s novels. The song was written by Troy Seals and Eddie Setser and first saw the light of day on Ray Charles’ Friendship album performed as a duet with Willie Nelson. Charles was no stranger to country music, having released two volumes of Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music in 1962. Friendship is an album comprising entirely duets with country singers including Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Ricky Skaggs.
Seven Spanish Angels is a simple song structure – two verses and a chorus but at the heart of it, as with many great country songs, is the story. Our story begins as we catch up with the lovers on the run being chased down by a body of overwhelming force. They come to make their stand. He asks her to pray for him; she hugs him, assuring him that God will look out for them. Fatalistically he tells her this is his last fight and “if they take me back to Texas, they won’t take me back alive”.
It cuts away to the chorus where the angels of the title are overseeing the scene ostensibly on the side of the lovers but powerless to intercede as: “when the battle stopped and the smoke cleared/ there was thunder from the throne/ and seven Spanish angels took another angel home”.
Verse two opens with the distraught and newly bereaved lover, choosing to stay with the love of her life in eternity over remaining alone. She picks up his empty weapon, makes her peace with her God “when the rifles fired again”. The chorus resumes as the angels sweep in and taken another soul home with them.
Charles takes the first verse and chorus – joined by what sounds like a heavenly choir- and Nelson takes the second before the chorus repeats with Charles joined by the strings and a final swelling refrain with Charles, Nelson and the choir.
The song has been covered by many acts ranging from Dry Branch Fire Squad to Daniel O’Donnell. More recently, it has featured in Sierra Ferrell’s sets as well as closing the first album by Australian americana duo The Pleasures.
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