Song lyrics are arguably the most versatile process of making music. Artists can use words to make you think, cry, fall in love, or just have fun. Black women in music have created gorgeous lyrics for decades, and “Angel” by Halle Bailey is no different. Written by Halle, Sebastian Kole, and Ron “Neff-U” Feemster as a song that emphasizes Black female empowerment and confidence, this song has impressive imagery. The meaning within this song goes beyond the initial words, so let’s take a closer look.

Verse One: Don’t Let Your Wings Weigh You Down

The first verse of “Angel” calls attention to the listener, asking questions directed toward those who may be struggling with their inner selves: “Do you ever make it out of your head? / Do you still swim in your thoughts? / Do you still mistake your flaws for property?” While it is clear that Halle relates to these lyrics, unfortunately, these questions plague so many of us. Swimming in our thoughts causes us to criticize every part of ourselves, whether small or big. Our heads can be a cage of doubt and solemness that, while we may try not to, can be what ruins our perceptions of ourselves. These lines represent how Halle recognizes and understands the anxiety her listeners face on a daily basis.

As a direct call to the higher power that inspires this song, Halle sings “Somethin’ that just don’t sit right with you / But Heaven knows, Heaven knows / Your wings can weigh you down.” The repetition of “Heaven knows”  serves as a way to show us that we may not understand why we think like we do, but God does. The symbolism of wings being the burdens we carry is gorgeous because while our wings are heavy, they are also what makes us fly. Once we become strong enough we can overcome those thoughts and fly above them. Wings have always been depicted as glorious, but the weight is the only downfall. Our thoughts, or “wings,” can be overwhelming and make us doubt ourselves, but once that weight is gone, they are the strength against reality. 

Pre Chorus and Chorus: Wear The Halo You’re Meant to Wear

“But angels make a way somehow / And if we fall, we fall on clouds,” sings Halle, summing up that we are always capable of overcoming the battles we face. The “clouds” are a metaphor for the triumph after the tribulations. Even in failure, we can turn it into a win. The chorus of “Black girl here, Black girl with the Black girl hair / Took a little sunkiss just to look like this / God-sent, you’re an angel (Angel) / Angel (Angel) / Angel (Angel) / Angel (Angel) / Heaven wears your halo / They know you’re an angel (Angel) / Angel (Angel) / Angel (Angеl) / Angel (Angel)”  is where Halle’s audience is revealed and presents us Black women as angels. Our skin, gracefully illustrated as a sunkiss, is an affirmation against the stigma attached to them.  

Bailey once again mentions God  to emphasize us being special with the adjective “godsent.”  Additionally, the repetition of “Angel” comes off as highlighting how we should perceive ourselves as if to force us to remember. With the first verse bringing attention to how we can forget our worth, the chorus reminds us of it. “Heaven wears your halo” is proof that we are more important than the doubts in our minds that make us think as the highest power.  

Verse Two: You’re Stronger Than You Think

Verse two serves as a buildup of that confidence we slowly gain once we realize our worth. While verse one focuses on insecurities, verse two squashes those thoughts with powerful ones. “I’m a big deal, I gеt sick and tired of holdin’ it in / Rich blood, you can probably see the gold in my skin / I’m more than a girl, won’t let the troubles of the world / Come weigh me down” Since this song specifically calls out to Black women, “gold in my skin” portrays our skin as valuable and gorgeous.

This song can uplift anyone, but Black women face some of the worst mental stress. Growing up and living in a world that objectifies and stereotypes us, mental strength is a weapon and power. Bailey urges us to remember our “rich blood” that comes from the generations of Black women showing courage in a multitude of ways. We possess abilities that are sometimes unnoticed.

Further, just like Halle, we should be tired of holding back who and how special we are. “I’m more than a girl” disposes of the term “Black girl” and replaces it with “Black woman.” The term has always been held to a high standard in our community and links us with the said generation mentioned earlier. In an article by Yvette Cozier in BU today, she goes more in-depth to the importance of the term. She analyzes the need to persevere compared to other women, with a huge factor being the odds stacked against us from birth. Her research is a perfect emphasis on why we think highly of ourselves when we succeed.

As Black women, we have the ability to change the world for the better if we face our doubts and fears, symbolized as the “troubles of the world” here. We see a difference in how weight is portrayed in this verse. In the first verse, weight was something to be expected and a stepping stone to victory. However, this verse tells us not to let the weight of the world bring us down because that isn’t a part of our story. Some battles are worth it and some are not.

The Bridge: Your Scars Are Beautiful

Verse one gave us insecurity, verse two gave us confidence, and now finally the bridge mixes those feelings into one. “Some might hate and they wait on your fall (Ah) / They don’t know there’s a grace for it all (Ah) / My flaws don’t make me / Beautiful and real are you, they cannot compare, all you / Perfectly a masterpiece in all of me, even my scars / Even my scars, yeah.” Bailey has taken us through learning who we are, but unfortunately, that doesn’t mean everything will be perfect now. When we learn our strengths, we tend to get pushback or have people who hate to see us win. Those people don’t know that the hate they show just propels us forward in our success. 

The heavenly words continue with “grace” being a representation of triumph or victory. It conveys that through all the obstacles, there is always grace in the end. The emphasis on scars is a cumulation of the emotions we’ve heard in the song. Those insecurities, hate, and worry are only some of the scars we carry. They are a part of us, and they make us real. Instead of referring to them as being broken, she uses the word “masterpiece” to continue her empowering lyrics. Overall, the song portrays angels as powerful and alluring beings. Nonetheless, they still have flaws, and that makes them even more beautiful.

The lyricism in this piece is as captivating as it is inspiring. Halle gives her audience words that so many of us Black women can relate to and learn from. It is a prime example of artistry that goes beyond the song and tune.

Check out more of Formation’s music spotlights here! 

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