Project 365 Day #98
“Angel From Montgomery” from the album John Prine, released in 1971
Though it can be argued that Bonnie Raitt’s version is superior, John Prine’s original will always have a special place in my heart. This is mostly because of his songwriting skills.
His ability to empathize with a person in a completely different situation than his, then write about it, is inspiring. The narrator of “Angel From Montgomery” is a middle-aged woman. She’s miserable in her marriage, feels older than she actually is, and is so unhappy that she longs for an angel to come save her from her quiet mess of a life.
More than that though, it is simultaneously sad and hopeful; it is a song about the human experience. Writing this song earned Prine a place in my writers hall of fame.
