Angels Would Fall

"Angels Would Fall"
"Angels Would Fall"
Single by Melissa Etheridge
from the album Breakdown
Released	August 31, 1999
Studio	Sunset Sound (Hollywood, California)
Length	4:39
Label	Island
Songwriters	Melissa Etheridge, John Shanks
Producers	Melissa Etheridge, John Shanks
Melissa Etheridge singles chronology

"Angels Would Fall" is a song by American musician Melissa Etheridge, released as the first single from her sixth album, Breakdown (1999), on August 31, 1999.

Song information

The song was written by Melissa Etheridge with the main guitar loop contributed by John Shanks. It is one of her darkest songs as the singer says herself on the bonus DVD of her album Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled:^[2]

Breakdown was such a dark period in my life that all the songs were turning out so dark that I even had to go to John Shanks who was producing this album, which was one of his first producing projects [...] but it was a very artistic time and the songs were very moody, very dark, and I finally said: "Look, do you have any pieces of music maybe I can write to? Because I am scraping on the bottom of my soul."

"Angels Would Fall" is about a desperate crush Etheridge had on someone else's girlfriend during her shattered relationship with Julie Cypher.^[3] In the verses, she describes the pain she feels because she can tell nobody about her feelings ("The rope that's wrapped around me is cutting through my skin..."), while in the chorus she is singing the desired person's praises ("Angels never came down [...] but if they knew, if they knew you at all, angels would fall...").

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref.
2000	Grammy Award	Best Rock Song	Nominated	^[4]
2000	Grammy Award	Best Female Rock Vocal Performance	Nominated	^[4]

Music video

The music video was shot in 1999 and shows Etheridge playing her song in a dark, empty, saloon-styled bar where the furniture is destroyed like after a fight. In retrospective scenes, nebulous images of people in white dresses come down from the ceiling symbolising the fallen angels. While they fall down, they cause the damage described above. These angels find love in each other, both homosexual and heterosexual couples are formed. Towards the end, the door of the bar opens and the angels go into the light.^[5]

Track listings

All song were written by Melissa Etheridge except "Angels Would Fall", written by Etheridge and John Shanks.

US and Australian CD single^[6]^[7]

"Angels Would Fall"
"Into the Dark"
"Beloved"

US 7-inch single and European CD single^[8]^[9]

"Angels Would Fall" – 4:17
"Into the Dark" – 4:58

Personnel

Melissa Etheridge – acoustic guitar, vocals
Kenny Aronoff – drums, marimba, shaker
Jon Brion – guitar
Mark Browne – bass
Matt Chamberlain – drums
Steve Ferrone – percussion, drums
Rami Jaffee – keyboard
Jim Keltner – drums
Greg Leisz – guitar, mandolin, lap steel guitar, pedals
Brian MacLeod – percussion, drum loop
Pino Palladino – bass
John Shanks – dulcimer, guitar, harp, marimba, background vocals
Patrick Warren – keyboard
Gota Yashiki – drum loop

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[10]	59
Canada (The Record)^[11]	16
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[12]	6
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[13]	28
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[14]	5
Germany (GfK)^[15]	88
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[16]	61
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[17]	48
Quebec (ADISQ)^[18]	4
US Billboard Hot 100^[19]	51
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[20]	1
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[21]	9
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[22]	32

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[23]	43
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[24]	33
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[25]	52
US Triple-A (Billboard)^[26]	19

Chart (2000)	Position
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[27]	84

References

^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1314. August 27, 1999. pp. 139, 143, 154.
^ Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled at 00:48:40
^ Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled at 00:50:10
^ "Melissa Etheridge". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
^ The music video on YouTube, published by Universal Music Group
^ Angels Would Fall (US CD single liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1999. 314 562 345-8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Angels Would Fall (Australian CD single liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1999. 562 345 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Angels Would Fall (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1999. 314-562 344-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Angels Would Fall (European CD single liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1999. 562 344-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
^ "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 38. September 18, 1999. p. 74.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7338." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7285." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 8435." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^ "Melissa Etheridge – Angels Would Fall" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^ "Melissa Etheridge – Angels Would Fall" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^ "Melissa Etheridge – Angels Would Fall". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (PDF) (in French). BAnQ. 11 September 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved August 16, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "RPM 1999 Top 50 Rock Tracks". RPM. Retrieved August 16, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 47.
^ "The Best of '99: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 38.
^ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 48.

Sources

Melissa Etheridge and Laura Morton: The truth is..., Random House 2002
Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled bonus DVD
Lyrics

[1] "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1314. August 27, 1999. pp. 139, 143, 154.

[2] Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled at 00:48:40

[3] Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled at 00:50:10

[Gram-4] "Melissa Etheridge". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.

[5] The music video on YouTube, published by Universal Music Group

[6] Angels Would Fall (US CD single liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1999. 314 562 345-8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[7] Angels Would Fall (Australian CD single liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1999. 562 345 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[8] Angels Would Fall (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1999. 314-562 344-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[9] Angels Would Fall (European CD single liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1999. 562 344-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[10] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.

[11] "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 38. September 18, 1999. p. 74.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-12] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7338." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

[sc_Canadaadultcontemporary_-13] "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7285." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

[sc_Canadarock_-14] "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 8435." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

[sc_Germany_Melissa_Etheridge-15] "Melissa Etheridge – Angels Would Fall" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

[sc_Dutch100_Melissa_Etheridge-16] "Melissa Etheridge – Angels Would Fall" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

[sc_New_Zealand_Melissa_Etheridge-17] "Melissa Etheridge – Angels Would Fall". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

[18] "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (PDF) (in French). BAnQ. 11 September 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2025.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Melissa_Etheridge-19] "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

[sc_Billboardadultalternativesongs_Melissa_Etheridge-20] "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

[sc_Billboardadultpopsongs_Melissa_Etheridge-21] "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_Melissa_Etheridge-22] "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

[23] "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved August 16, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.

[24] "RPM 1999 Top 50 Rock Tracks". RPM. Retrieved August 16, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.

[25] "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 47.

[26] "The Best of '99: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 38.

[27] "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 48.

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v t e Melissa Etheridge
Albums	Melissa Etheridge Brave and Crazy Never Enough Yes I Am Your Little Secret Breakdown Skin Lucky The Awakening A New Thought for Christmas Fearless Love 4th Street Feeling This Is M.E. MEmphis Rock and Soul The Medicine Show One Way Out
Compilations	Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled
Notable singles	"Bring Me Some Water" "Like the Way I Do" "No Souvenirs" "You Can Sleep While I Drive" "I'm the Only One" "Come to My Window" "If I Wanted To" "Your Little Secret" "I Want to Come Over" "Angels Would Fall" "Scarecrow" "I Want to Be in Love" "Breathe" "Refugee" "I Need to Wake Up" "Message to Myself" "Fearless Love"
Featured singles	"Cry Baby"/"Piece of My Heart" "Just Stand Up!" "Sing"
Related articles	Discography Awards and nominations Julie Cypher Tammy Lynn Michaels Linda Wallem "I Am Not My Hair"

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