Merilee Rush sings Angel of the Morning

I love this song. I heard it first back at school but it was released in 1968. It is a simple pop song, but the lyric was astonishing and radical in its day – various radio stations refused to play it – and even today the words seem strangely uncomfortable; the story of a woman leaving her stranger-lover’s home where she has spent the night and walking into the streets in the morning and wanting nothing from the man, casting no blame and taking full responsibility for her actions. It has that gorgeous line, “If morning’s echo says we’ve sinned, it was what I wanted now.” The thought was controversial back then and in these new censorious times, like something from outer space. The song was written by Juice Newton and her version is beautiful too, but it is Merrilee Rush’s rendition that is so sweet and so very haunting and so real. I hope you love it as much as I do,

Love, Susie x 

ANGEL OF THE MORNING

There'll be no strings to bind your hands
Not if my love can't bind your heart
And there's no need to take a stand
For it was I who chose to start
I see no need to take me home
I'm old enough to face the dawn

Just call me angel of the morning
Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby
Just call me angel of the morning
Then slowly turn away from me

Maybe the sun's light will be dim
And it won't matter anyhow
If morning's echo says we've sinned
It was what I wanted now
And if we're victims of the night
I won't be blinded by the light

Just call me angel of the morning
Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby
Just call me angel of the morning
Then slowly turn away
I won't beg you to stay with me

Lyrics by Juice Newton