About the song
There are some songs that don’t just get played—they get felt. Willie Nelson’s “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” is one of those rare ballads that lands softly but lingers deeply, touching hearts with every tender note. Released in 1981 as part of the soundtrack for the film Honeysuckle Rose, this poignant song has long been considered one of Nelson’s most emotional and personal masterpieces.
With his unmistakable voice—worn, wise, and weathered like an old friend—Nelson delivers a message of unconditional love and quiet heartbreak. The song tells the story of someone who once loved an angel that had been hurt, and in trying to help, ended up losing her. “I knew someday that you would fly away,” he sings with bittersweet resignation. It’s a line that has stayed with listeners for decades, wrapped in the gentle strum of Nelson’s guitar and the honesty of his phrasing.
What makes “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” so powerful isn’t just its lyrics, but its emotional vulnerability. The simplicity of the melody leaves room for the weight of the words to sink in, and Nelson never tries to over-deliver. Instead, he lets the song breathe, allowing the pain and beauty to emerge naturally. It’s a love song, yes—but it’s also a farewell, a blessing, and a quiet prayer for someone we can’t hold onto forever.
Over the years, this ballad has become a comfort to the grieving, the brokenhearted, and the quietly hopeful. It’s a reminder that love sometimes means letting go, and that even angels have their own path to follow. More than four decades later, Willie Nelson’s timeless ballad still soars—not just through the airwaves, but straight into the soul.
Video
Lyrics
If you had not a-fallen, then I would not have found you
Angel flying too close to the ground
And I patched up your broken wing
And hung around a while
Trying to keep your spirits up
And your fever down
I knew someday that you would fly away
For love’s the greatest healer to be found
So leave me if you need to, I will still remember
Angel flying too close to the ground
Fly on, fly on past the speed of sound
I’d rather see you up than see you down
So leave me if you need to, I will still remember
Angel flying too close to the ground
Leave me if you need to, I will still remember
Angel flying too close to the ground
