This song is inspired by the practice of convict leasing during the Jim Crow Era of the Southern United States. From Wikipedia:
Convict leasing provided prisoner labor to private parties, such as plantation owners and corporations (e.g. Tennessee Coal and Iron Company). It could be lucrative for th...
[Intro]
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
[Verse 1]
Underneath the cotton sun
The freedom we had just begun
Sweeter than the finest rum
With my Angeline
A home with every kind of tree
Built it without anything
Life is like a peach in cream
With my Angeline
[Chorus]
Angeline, oh, Angeline
She had the softest smile that I had ever seen
Sweet summer rain
I just want to be able see her again
[Verse 2]
That day I was walking down
The railroad tracks I heard the sound
The sheriff, he was mighty proud
And told me I had to pay
The foreman, he had to come to find
Prison folk to work the mine
The judge was there to give me time
Away from my Angeline
[Chorus]
Angeline, oh, Angeline
She's the sweetest song that I could ever sing
Feeling the pain
I just want to be able to sing to her again
[Verse 3]
Seven years until I'm free
Working off this prison fee
My fingers smell like kerosene
In a mine in Tennessee
Every day I hold my breath
Every hour I wish for death
Angeline, she's settled west
Away from Tennessee
[Chorus]
Tennessee, oh, Tennessee
You have the darkest veins that I had ever seen
Deep in the mine
Angeline, your memories won't let me die
[Bridge]
Angeline
Angeline
Angeline
Angeline
Angeline (Angeline)
Angeline (Angeline)
Angeline (Angeline)
Angeline
[Chorus]
Angeline, oh, Angeline
Had the softest smile that I had ever seen
Sweet summer rain
I just want to be able to see you again
Angeline was written by Kishi Bashi.
Angeline was produced by Kishi Bashi.
Kishi Bashi released Angeline on Fri May 31 2019.