Workin’ Them Angels
Background and Commentary
The piece is about living on the edge, pushing yourself to the limits of your ability. It’s a recurring theme in Neil’s travel memoirs, and in Traveling Music
“A black couple came in behind us, the woman large with a flowered dress and hat, the man small and skinny in a suit and tie. He was smiling kind of sheepishly as she harangued him with a pointing finger, presumably about his driving: ‘You workin’ them angels overtime—you workin’ them angels overtime.’
“From then on, Brutus and I often used that line on each other, to describe the way we lived, on and off the bikes, and it had continued to be a metaphor for my life. I didn’t think I was foolhardy or irresponsible, but a certain level of risk in life seemed worthwhile for the promised return—excitement and treasured experiences—and though I didn’t realy believe in ‘them angels,’ if I had them, I guessed I kept them pretty busy.”
Lyrics
Driving away to the east, and into the past
History recedes in my rear-view mirror
Carried away on a wave of music down a desert road
Memory humming at the heart of a factory town
All my life
I’ve been workin’ them angels overtime
Riding and driving and living
So close to the edge
Workin’ them angels—overtime
Riding through the Range of Light to the wounded city
Filling my spirit with the wildest wish to fly
Taking the high road to the wounded city
Memory strumming at the heart of a moving picture
All this time
I’ve been workin’ them angels overtime
Riding and diving and flying
Just over the edge
Workin’ them angels—overtime
Driving down the razor’s edge ‘tween the past and the future
Turn up the music and smile
Get carried away on the songs and stories of vanished times
Memory drumming at the heart of an English winter
Memories beating at the heart of an African village
Tablature (Chords)
From Your Chords.
Note: It’s kinda hard to put the chords on top of the lyrics for this song, since
different timings are involved.
Work this progression during the intro and first verses:
G G G A
G G G D
G G G A
G G G D
G G G A
G G G D
G G G A
Driving away to the east, and into the past
History receeds in my rear-view mirror
Carried away on a wave of music down a desert road
_________
(build-up)
G G G E C A
E C A
Memory humming at the heart of a factory town
_________
Chorus:
E C A
E C (then A B G E quickly)
All my life
I’ve been workin’ them angels overtime
Riding and driving and living
So close to the edge
Workin’ them angels – Overtime
_________
Chords during solo:
E C A
_________
For the other verses and choruses, the chords remain the same as the intro, verses, and choruses.
From Your Chords.
Tutorials
“Workin’ Them Angels” guitar cover
“Workin’ THem Angels” drum cover (starts at 01:00)
rush vault 