Song Meaning
Gary Moore's "Like Angels" isn't subtle, but it's effective. The song meaning resides in its soaring, almost devotional chorus: a repeated mantra to "hold on to your dreams" and "fly like angels." It's a sentimentality bordering on cliché, yet Moore's earnest delivery and the song's inherent melodicism elevate it beyond mere greeting-card platitudes. The "wings of love" aren't some saccharine fantasy; instead, they represent the emotional investment required to pursue a dream, the vulnerability one exposes when daring to strive for something beyond the mundane. It's a nakedly optimistic song, and that's precisely its power. Moore understands the human need for simple, aspirational anthems.
The verses of "Like Angels" explore the underpinnings of this unwavering optimism. The opening lines acknowledge the universality of human experience: "In every heart a story is told…In every life the story unfolds." The lyrics suggest that life's inherent mysteries are not barriers, but rather invitations to "tear away the mask" and discover deeper meaning. There's a sense of urgency, too, with the acknowledgement that "time never hears the reasons we give." Moore isn't advocating for blind faith, but rather a conscious choice to embrace hope in the face of life's relentless march.
Ultimately, "Like Angels" functions as a secular gospel, a reminder that even in the face of cynicism and disillusionment, the human spirit retains the capacity for aspiration. The simplicity of the lyrics is deceptive; it's a direct appeal to the listener's inner child, the part of us that still believes in the possibility of achieving the impossible. The repeated exhortation to "fly like angels" becomes a call to action, a challenge to transcend the limitations of the everyday and embrace the transformative power of dreams.
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