The subject of much interpretation of its lyrics, this song became much more famous shortly after its release when Helen Reddy recorded a cover version that charted in America, the U.K., and Australia.
You live your life in the songs you hear
On the rock 'n' roll radio
And when a young girl doesn't have any friends
That's a really nice place to go
Folks hopin' you'd turn out cool
But they had to take you outta school
You're a little touched, you know, Angie, baby
Lovers appear in your room each night
And they whirl you 'cross the floor
But they always seem to fade away
When your daddy taps on your door
"Angie girl, are you alright?
Tell the radio good night."
All alone once more, Angie, baby
(chorus):
Angie, baby, you're a special lady
Livin' in a world of make believe
Well, maybe
Stoppin' at her house is a neighbor boy
With evil on his mind
'Cause he's been peekin' in Angie's room
Every night through the window blind
"I see your folks have gone away
Would you dance with me today?
I'll show you how to have a good time, Angie, baby"
When he walks in her room, he feels confused
Like he walked into a play
And the music's so loud, it spins him around
'Til his soul has lost its way
And as she turns the volume down
He's getting smaller with the sound
It seems to pull him off the ground
Toward the radio he's bound, never to be found
Well the headline reads that a boy disappeared
And everybody thinks he died
'Cept a crazy girl with a secret lover
Who keeps her satisfied
It's so nice to be insane, no one asks you to explain
Radio by your side, Angie, baby
(Repeat Chorus)
Angie Baby was written by Alan O’Day.
Angie Baby was produced by Steve Barri.
In a 2006 article, O'day wrote
Back in 1974, I was trying to write a song loosely based on the character in the Beatles’ “Lady Madonna”. My “heroine” was initially a typical modern woman, dealing with the complexities of juggling family & work. Now when a writer is at the beginning stages of a...