Angelina
Encyclopedia
"Angelina" is a song written by Bob Dylan
, originally recorded in 1981 for the album Shot of Love
. However, "Angelina" was cut from the record, and fans would have to wait until 1991 when it was released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991
. Like Dylan's similarly named "Farewell Angelina", "Angelina" is full of imagery and biblical allusions (the 'four faces', for example, of the final stanza appear to allude to Ezek.10. 14 and 10.21). Considered by most critics to be one of the best songs written during his "born-again" period, "Angelina" is the classic Dylan work in which obscure yet meaningful poetry and a seemingly all-encompassing vision take on mankind's most pressing problems, all the while making for a pleasant listen.
The movie Masked & Anonymous features an instrumental version of the tune over the ending credits, though it's not credited nor included on the soundtrack, it's performed by Bruce Kaphan
.
Intro: I
Verse: IV I V I / IV I V
Refrain: IV I V / IV I V
Coda: V
Each pair of verses is followed by a refrain on the words "Oh, Angelina", resulting in an AAB structure repeated 5 times. The song ends on a repeat of the refrain, and interestingly, not on the tonic (Db), but rather on the dominant (Ab).
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, originally recorded in 1981 for the album Shot of Love
Shot of Love
Shot of Love is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 21st studio album, released by Columbia Records in August 1981.It is generally considered to be Dylan's last of a trilogy of overtly religious, Christian albums. Also, it was his first since becoming born-again to focus on secular themes, from...
. However, "Angelina" was cut from the record, and fans would have to wait until 1991 when it was released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991
The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991
The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 is a compilation box set by Bob Dylan, issued on Columbia Records, catalogue C3K 86572. It is the first installment in the Dylan bootleg series, comprising material spanning the first three decades of his career, from 1961 to 1989...
. Like Dylan's similarly named "Farewell Angelina", "Angelina" is full of imagery and biblical allusions (the 'four faces', for example, of the final stanza appear to allude to Ezek.10. 14 and 10.21). Considered by most critics to be one of the best songs written during his "born-again" period, "Angelina" is the classic Dylan work in which obscure yet meaningful poetry and a seemingly all-encompassing vision take on mankind's most pressing problems, all the while making for a pleasant listen.
The movie Masked & Anonymous features an instrumental version of the tune over the ending credits, though it's not credited nor included on the soundtrack, it's performed by Bruce Kaphan
Bruce Kaphan
Bruce Kaphan is a musician who has worked on many studio projects, often as a pedal steel player, from 1970 to 2011. In particular he was a member of American Music Club.-Albums:Albums he has worked on include:* Schoolyard Ghosts* Everclear...
.
Song structure
Dylan's recording on "The Bootleg Series Volumes 3" is in Db major (performed on a piano tuned to A = 437 Hz) and has the following simple chord structure:Intro: I
Verse: IV I V I / IV I V
Refrain: IV I V / IV I V
Coda: V
Each pair of verses is followed by a refrain on the words "Oh, Angelina", resulting in an AAB structure repeated 5 times. The song ends on a repeat of the refrain, and interestingly, not on the tonic (Db), but rather on the dominant (Ab).