Elton John & Brandi Carlile – Who Believes In Angels?: Meaning, Lyric, Quotes

Elton John & Brandi Carlile – Who Believes In Angels? : A Raw Look at Flaws, Faith, and Finding Connection

Unpacking the Grit and Grace in “Who Believes In Angels?” by Elton John & Brandi Carlile

Alright, let’s talk about this track, “Who Believes In Angels?”. When you get two powerhouses like Elton John and Brandi Carlile together, you kinda know you’re in for something special. And this song? It doesn’t disappoint. It’s got this raw, almost world-weary vibe, but underneath, there’s a whole lot of heart. It feels like a late-night conversation, you know? The kind where you drop the polite act and get real.

The song kicks off by telling us we don’t need to put on a show. “You don’t need to laugh so hard / You don’t have to wear a tie”. It’s like they’re saying, ‘Hey, drop the facade. I see you.’ It immediately sets a tone of honesty, even uncomfortable honesty. That line, “Sometimes honest is being caught inside a lie”… wow. That hits hard, right? It suggests that true honesty isn’t about being perfect, but maybe about owning up to your imperfections when you’re found out. It’s about the messy truth of being human.

Been There, Done That: Embracing Shared Scars

The repeated phrase, “I have been there”, is like the song’s heartbeat. It’s this constant reassurance running underneath everything. It’s not just a casual remark; it feels deeply empathetic. Whether it’s navigating tough choices (“If I’d lived an easy life / Would I still choose you?”) or facing the consequences (“Would I fall on the same knife?”), the singers aren’t judging. They’re saying, ‘Yep, I get it. I’ve walked through that fire too.’ That image of the “rodeo queen breathing fire into the night” is pretty vivid, isn’t it? It paints a picture of someone fierce, maybe a little reckless, definitely someone who’s lived a life with some bumps and bruises. And again, the response is understanding: “Man, I’ve been there.” It’s about solidarity in struggle.

Cutting Through the Noise: What Really Matters?

Then comes the chorus, and it really cuts deep. “What do you say we set the pleasantries aside?” This is where they strip away the superficial stuff. Let’s stop pretending everything’s fine and talk about what’s actually going on. The line “Even the diamonds look like rocks to the untrained eye” is brilliant. It speaks volumes about perception and value. What looks worthless to one person might be incredibly precious to another, or maybe true value isn’t always shiny and obvious. It requires a closer look, maybe some experience – some ‘training’ – to see what’s real.

And those heavy questions: “What does it cost to buy your soul back when you die? / What are the angels gonna do with you and I?” Man, talk about existential! It makes you think about redemption, legacy, and whether our flawed human lives measure up to some divine standard. It’s less about finding a definitive answer and more about pondering the weight of our choices and how we’ll ultimately be seen, flaws and all. The slightly cynical follow-up, “What’ll the angels do with you and I?”, almost shrugs, acknowledging our shared imperfection.

Excuses, Excuses: Mercury in Retrograde?

The lines “Blame the end of days / Mercury in retrograde / Who believes in angels anyway?” feel like a knowing sigh. It touches on our tendency to find external reasons for our problems – blaming fate, astrology, anything but ourselves. It’s a very human thing to do, right? When things get tough, it’s easier to point fingers elsewhere. The question “Who believes in angels anyway?” could be read in a few ways. Is it genuine doubt born from hardship? Is it a sarcastic deflection? Or maybe it’s just acknowledging that traditional comforts or beliefs might not feel sufficient when you’re really in the thick of it. It highlights a crisis of faith, or perhaps just a frustration with easy answers.

The Real Takeaway: Connection in the Dark

Despite the questioning and the acknowledgment of lies and mistakes, the song doesn’t end on a purely cynical note. It circles back to that core message of empathy. “There’s no need to curse the stars / Or bite before you bark”. It’s advising against knee-jerk reactions and misplaced anger. But the final, crucial lines offer the most potent message: “But when you need someone to walk with in the dark / I have been there”. This, for me, is the heart of the song. After all the talk of flaws, regrets, and cosmic uncertainty, what truly matters is human connection. It’s the offer of companionship, born not from pity, but from shared experience. It’s saying, ‘I understand your darkness because I’ve known my own, and I’ll stick by you.’ The moral message isn’t about achieving perfection or pleasing angels; it’s about finding strength and solace in mutual understanding and support, especially when life gets tough. It’s profoundly human.

Okay, so we’ve dug into the layers and the powerful message woven through this song. It’s definitely one that sticks with you. But you know how sometimes specific lines just jump out and resonate? Let’s pull out a few of those gems that feel particularly insightful or inspiring, even within the song’s gritty honesty.

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Finding Wisdom: Inspirational Quotes from Elton John & Brandi Carlile’s “Who Believes In Angels?”

Sometimes a song just hands you these little nuggets of truth, lines that make you pause and think. “Who Believes In Angels?” is full of them. Here are a few that really stand out, offering some perspective on life, honesty, and seeing beyond the surface.

Embracing Imperfect Honesty

This line really reframes what honesty can mean:

What it means: This isn’t about endorsing lying! It’s more about acknowledging that sometimes, the most honest moment comes when our masks slip, when we’re caught in an untruth. It suggests that owning up to our flaws, even when exposed, is a more profound form of honesty than pretending to be perfect. It’s about authenticity, even in our mistakes.

Recognizing Hidden Value

A great reminder about judgment and perception:

What it means: This is a powerful metaphor urging us to look deeper. True worth, whether in people, situations, or objects, isn’t always immediately obvious. It takes insight, experience, or maybe just a willingness to see past the superficial to recognize genuine value. Don’t dismiss something (or someone) too quickly!

The Weight of Redemption

This one’s a heavy hitter, prompting serious reflection:

What it means: This challenges us to think about the consequences of our actions and the concept of redemption. Can we truly ‘buy back’ our soul or undo past wrongs? It’s a provocative question about legacy, morality, and whether we should focus more on living authentically and ethically now, rather than hoping for a cosmic reset later. It inspires introspection about what truly matters in the long run.

Challenging Deflection

This trio of lines serves as a pointed observation:

What it means: While maybe not ‘inspirational’ in the cheerful sense, it’s inspiring in its call for self-awareness. It highlights our common habit of blaming external forces (fate, astrology, a crisis of faith) for our troubles. It’s a nudge to consider our own role and responsibility, to look inward instead of always outward for explanations or excuses.

The Power of Shared Experience

Perhaps the most comforting and inspiring message in the song:

What it means: This is pure empathy and solidarity. It’s the ultimate statement of support, grounded in shared struggle. True connection often comes from understanding another person’s pain because you’ve experienced something similar. It’s an inspiration to be present for others, offering companionship not out of obligation, but out of genuine, hard-won understanding. It tells us that our own difficult experiences can become a source of strength and comfort for others.

So, “Who Believes In Angels?” offers this incredible blend of raw honesty, questioning, and deep empathy. It doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of being human but ultimately lands on the profound power of connection. What are your thoughts on the song? Did any particular lines jump out at you? Maybe you interpret the lyrics or the overall message a bit differently? Let’s chat about it – I’d love to hear your perspective!