Angel Ridge

This week's song is another beautifully penned number from Sue Harding:

Angel Ridge is a shiny new housing estate in Swindon that I'd pass every day on my way to work. I'd look at the sign pointing smartly up the hill and wonder what might happen to a soul in a place with such a resonant name. Later as I tried to craft lyrics for songs in the Americana style I listened to the folk singers of the last century, to bluegrass and gospel, early rock and roll and the blues. Angel Ridge had to be a love song but when I was done it had also soaked up some of the religious imagery and redemptive themes of the music I was listening to. I tried to keep the language simple, to re use some of the stock phrases and to embrace the naivety and unexpected quality of the juxtaposition of ideas and images that I so love in mountain music. Musically, the guitar part with its swinging base was a challenge for me but I wanted something old timey, up-beat and joyous and for the same reason I wanted the piece to have room for lots of harmonies and to build at the end in a way that lifts the heart as should a journey to Angel Ridge. Later Lou Baxter and I named our duo after the song and recorded it with full harmonies and a guitar solo.

Sue

Sue has been a regular attender of the session for a long time and is sadly leaving us to work in Abu Dhabi. We all wish her the very best... maybe we could do a skype session!?

Left my old ways on the bus

Headed out of town

Passed the pines and the old saw mill

Where we used to hang around

Walked a while beside the creek

Down by Baker's bridge

Took the steep old timer's trail

Up to Angel Ridge

My darling sent a message

The warmest sweetest sound

He said meet me up on Angel Ridge

To see the sun go down.

My baby's sweet as honey

And gentle as a dove

Gonna tell him I'm sorry

And offer him my love.

I'm dreaming by the river

Down by Baker's Bridge

Heading on up like a feather

Onto Angel Ridge.

I've been reckless, I've been wild

Lord knows I've been gone

Running like a wayward child

With my red shoes on

My baby's like a tiger

And patient as a stone

Gonna take me as I am

So I can come on home

I'm running to that river

Down by baker's bridge

Gonna see my sweet baby

Up on Angel Ridge

I'll find the warmest surest thing

I have ever found

Waiting up on Angel ridge

To see the sun go down

And I have his forgiveness

And he has sure got mine

We'll sleep out on a blanket

Underneath the pines

I'm running to that river

And over Baker's bridge

Gonna find my sweet sweet love

Up on Angel Ridge

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