...but they always give it back.
 

In Street Angel, Stevie says, "They may tell you that you hold the world in your hands, but they always give it back." I've always loved this line, but it honestly makes no sense. They give what back?! Shouldn't they always take it back? Was this just Stevie being Stevie, or is there some way that this line actually makes sense?

Well the only way I see it making sense is if I take "the world" away from you and hand it to Stevie. "There you go Stevie you are holding the world in your hands". Then "Oh wait a sec, I need to give it back to APerfectLie now".

Other than that...no it doesn't make sense.

OK since my life practically revolves around Street Angel~ here's what i think:

"They may tell you that you hold the world in your hands"

this is a response to Go Your Own Way: "Baby i'd give you my world"

"But they always give it back"

i think this is typical Stevie. She means to say "take it back" but she feels that "give it back" sounds nicer...

alright, that's just MO

PS i just reached 1,000 posts!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I've always thought that Stevie was something of a post-modernist, forsaking meaning for aesthetics and the way a line sounds within a song. This is true in the Destiny Rules documentary, where she refuses to change the tenses around in 'Thrown Down' because she prefers the beauty of the way it sounds, even if it doesn't make as much coherent sense. To Lindsey, she says: "It the way I write; it's the poet that I am."

I think this is true in Street Angel. I don't think the line really means anything, but the rhythm of that line is so strong that I don't really mind. It seems to work within the structure of the song.

I'm thinking it more has to do with the mind set of the homeless person, [Stevie's Street Angel] is saying the WE ALL have the world in our hands, but this particular street angel that Stevie is singing about, doesn't want to live like the rest of us, a comfortable lifestyle, money etc, Street Angel doesn't want or need the ''world'' that we all live in. So S/Angel is giving it back, turning their back on society & are content living' on the street with the music & the people that they love..:shrug: that's just my take..

alright, is this now a speculation of the whole song???

Stevie says her lifestyle has been full of "rainbows" but Lindsey's has struggles - and it's full of "mean streets." She tries to "bring him in out of the cold" and help him out, but he doesn't want to give them up (like in "Twisted"). SA's "live on the street...they always will". Lindsey is "not like anyone you know." This is mirrored in "Thrown Down" ("you're not like other people") and in "Listen to the Rain" ("you're not like anyone else")....She describes a character as a "Charles Dickens character with your top hat and your scarf", which is absolutely Stevie's outfits! She addresses the problem at hand when she says that instead of remaining with her, Lindsey "went back to the music" and the "people that you love" (fans). .

Stevie than looks back on their Buckingham Nicks days-"I can't help but wonder if, Every once in a while you remember the girl. When you were a homeless angel, that drove you wild. Strange and elusive". The "homeless angel" part is when Stevie had to go back to waitressing because they were poor, and, basically, homeless.

"I know that you love me and you always will." Story of Lindsey and Stevie. They ALWAYS will love each other, even if they're not TOGETHER.

then Stevie talks about why she left Linds. She says she "ended it all for the both of us", because the constant troubles between her and his music was tearing them both apart. She says that It seems like Lindsey never figured out "why everything turned around" (Go Your Own Way) Stevie answers the question: to keep his sanity and what was left of it! and this is why he doesn't "hear voices anymore."

does that make ANY sense to anybody????!?!?!?!

If you go check out page 36 in the archives section, on Lets talk about Street Angel, Stevie explains what the song is about.

oh, thank you! i guess i was just ranting...sowwee guys! LOL

"Street Angel" is one of the handful of songs I like from the SA album. Part of the problem though with this song (as with many of the songs from SA) is that the song isn't about Stevie or her life, it's just a story song. In this case it's the story of a homeless person who falls in love with a rich guy. He takes her in off the street and gives her a life of luxery, she just never fits in so she fakes her own death in order to get away from him. A bit melodramatic perhaps. So that line in the song is pretty literal actually, he handed his world over to her and she gave it back to him.
I think the song may have been intended to be sung as a duet between the rich guy and the homeless girl. Instead Stevie sings both parts herself.
As I said this song, although I like it, is a perfect example of what's wrong with SA, the songs are all pretty straightforward lyrically. It's almost as if she dumbed down her lyrics to appeal to a broader audience. So rather than her usaual poetic form of lyric, she just came right out and said whatever.

You don't have to be sowee, it was a good try though LOL & I enjoyed your whole take on it anyway...
Skuncles, you have explained Street Angel very well, so much better than me LOL.

A bit of a sidenote, Miranda, I love you passion for Street Angel- kind of reminds me of me when I was younger. Why Street Angel though, what's the story?

I guess that does make sense that she is talking about two different "they"s. They being just people in general, may tell you that you hold the world in your hands, but they, street angels, don't want the world in their hands so they always give it back. But if not, then I guess this holds true, "You can't change that because it's beautiful! I write what I want to! It's the way I write, it's the way I write!! Its the way... it's the poet that I am!!!"

I'm not sure, actually. It's like this cosmic attraction to it. It came out the year before i was born, so maybe i feel like i'm supposed to like it. :shrug: Vocally, it's also my favorite. Best blend of her husky, sexy voice and her high notes - very rock n roll. The album artwork and her appearance during that time were GORGEOUS and, i don't know...it sets me apart from everyone else so it gives me an identity which i think is cool. :nod:

I agree with you on pretty much.... EVERYTHING you just said! :nod: