Hello! Below you'll find my "Angel from Montgomery" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This classic song by John Prine was very famously covered by Bonnie Raitt. My version here sticks more closely to Bonnie Raitt's recording and is in her key of E.
Enjoy!
Angel from Montgomery Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Angel from Montgomery:
Angel from Montgomery Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| E A/C# | X4
| E A/C# | X4
[Verse 1]
E A E A
I am an old woman named after my mother
E A B7 E
My old man is another child that's grown old
E A E A
If dreams were thunder and lightning was desire
E A B7 E
This old house would've burnt down a long time ago
[Chorus 1]
E D A E
Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
E D A E
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
E D A E
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
E A B7 E
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
E D A E
Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
E D A E
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
E D A E
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
E A B7 E
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
[Interlude 1]
| E A/C# | X2
| E A/C# | X2
[Verse 2]
E A E A
When I was a young girl, I had me a cowboy
E A B7 E
Wasn't much to look at, just a free ramblin' man
E A E A
But that was a long time, and no matter how I try
E A B7 E
The years just flow by, like a broken-down dam
[Chorus 2]
E D A E
Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
E D A E
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
E D A E
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
E A D (E)
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
E D A E
Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
E D A E
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
E D A E
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
E A D (E)
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
[Interlude 2]
| E A/C# | X4
| E A/C# | X4
[Verse 3]
E A E A
There's flies in the kitchen, I can hear them a-buzzin'
E A B7 E
But I ain't done nothin' since I woke up today
E A E A
How the hell can a person, go to work in the morning
E A B7 E
And come home in the evening, and have nothin' to say
[Chorus 3]
E D A E
Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
E D A E
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
E D A E
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
E A D E
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
E D A E
Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
E D A E
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
E D A E
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
E A D E
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
[Outro]
E A B7 E
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
E A B7 E
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Angel from Montgomery Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Angel from Montgomery" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Angel from Montgomery" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
