Lord, Send Me an Angel

"Lord, Send Me an Angel" is a song by Blind Willie McTell of which two versions were recorded on September 19, 1933 in New York. Accompanied by his wife, Kate, McTell re-recorded it as "Ticket Agent Blues" in 1935, albeit with some alternate verses. This was used as the B-side to his single "Bell Street Blues" on Decca Records. The song was covered by Detroit, Michigan garage rock band, The White Stripes, which was released as a single in October of 2000.

The original version of the song begins with a dialogue between the singer and God. The former asks for an angel and the latter says, having no angels, He'll send "a teasin' brown". The rest of the lyrics describe the singer's promiscuity and liking for women of different complexions: "One woman's Atlanta yellow, the other is Macon brown, but the Statesboro blackskin will turn your damper down". The song ends with the singer addressing a lover, saying he's leaving her and that she'll be sorry she drove him away, perhaps wishful thinking judging by the way he claims to regard women.

The White Stripes' cover version features various changes to the original lyrics. Jack White's name replaces Blind Willie McTell's, and Detroit replaces Macon and Georgia as place names.

Track listing of The White Stripes' single

Media Links

• Audio recording of Blind Willie McTell's version
• Live recording of a performance by The White Stripes

References

• Allmusic: "Lord, Send Me an Angel". Retrieved September 21, 2005.
• White Stripes.net Retrieved September 21, 2005.
• White Stripes.net FAQ. Retrieved September 21, 2005.
• www.wirz.de/music/mctelfrm.htm