Workin' Them Angels
by Rush

Album: Snakes & Arrows (2007)
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Songfacts®:

  • In Rush's drummer Neil Peart writes their lyrics, and is also an accomplished author. In his book Traveling Music, he explains that while he was out for a road trip, he overheard an elderly black couple who had just come off the road. The wife was on her husband's case for driving like a maniac, saying he was "workin' them angels," meaning he was pushing his luck.
  • Peart has mentioned his "daredevil" moments in all of his books, such as riding his bicycle "faster than safe speed" down a hill in West Africa, speeding and passing in traffic on his motorcycle in Ghost Rider and Roadshow. The lyrics in this song refer to these escapades. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Mountlake Terrace, WA, for above 2

Comments: 4

  • Lewis from Duluth, MnThe lyric "Filling my spirit with the wildest wish to fly" may be a reference to the title track from the album "The Wildest Wish to Fly" by Rupert Hine. He was the producer for Rush on Presto and Roll The Bones.
  • Robert from Las Vegas, NvAwesome story Stacie! I figured the lyrics had to do something with pushing oneself to their limits and even could be a father working himself to the bone, constantly working overtime such as my father did to provide us with a good life growing up. But then in the end getting fired and replaced by a "kid" because he didn't have a college degree. Which you don't learn how to manage a company and treat your co-workers well and juggle everything you need to by studying a text book in class, kid! Sorry for getting off subject.
  • Claude from Kingston, MaGreat story Stacie! Very cool.
  • Stacie from High Ridge, Mothis song is beautiful i am surprised i am the first to comment, but also honored! i love rush i love every song they have ever done!i love seein them live, especially from up close! we had 1st row the day our daughter was conceived 9-1-07 and 6-30-08 they were back in cinci we had 3rd row that time- we followed their(al&ged)cadillacs to the venue in ohio(neil rode his motorcycle)we told them we named our daughter after them (middle name rush) and neil gave us drumsticks (that he used!)to give her
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