The Healing Journey

February 27, 2025

Country and gospel singer and songwriter Randy Travis is widely recognized as the force behind the emergence of the “new country” phenomenon, which began in the late 1980s. He was the first country artist who went platinum with his debut album “Storms of Life,” which was released in 1986. Travis has been performing publicly since he was a boy, often with his brothers.

During his career, Travis has recorded more than 20 studio albums and appeared in film and television. One of his most popular songs is “Angels,” which has moved countless people since it was first recorded. It appeared on his 16th album, released in 2004. “Angels” is considered a tribute to Travis’ own mother Bobbie Traywick, who raised six children with her husband Harold in North Carolina.

Hear Randy Travis sing “Angels,” https://youtu.be/aUUvYfygLUg?si=–9H31q1UvnThZt3

Me and some of the boys were sitting around the other night
Started talking about politics, religion, love and life,
And what a shame it was about 9/11
And what about hell and what about heaven
And is there or isn’t there angels on earth?
And then one guy said,
“Well, you can take that for what it’s worth.
If it’s something I can see or something I can touch,
Well, I might believe in all that stuff,”
So I just had to say to him,
“Are you telling me that you’ve never seen an angel?
Never felt the presence of one standing by?
No robe of white
No halo in sight?
Well, you missed the most obvious thing.
Man, are you blind?
Just look in your mother’s eyes.”
And then I said, “Who went through the pain
And smiled through the tears on the day of your birth?
She counted your fingers and toes and thank God you were whole.
Son you outta know who loved you first, that’s right
And who always came running every time you cried out
And how many more things have you forgotten about?
And who tried their best to teach you wrong from right
And how many nights did she leave on the light
While she waited and prayed that you came in?
And who’d be there for you right up to the end?
Think about it tonight.
Are you telling me that you’ve never seen an angel?
Never felt the presence of one standing by?
No robe of white
No halo in sight?
Well, you missed the most obvious thing.
Aw man, are you blind?
Just look in your mother’s eyes
Aw man, are you blind?
Just look in your mother’s eyes.
That’s right.
(Songwriters: Arron Faye / Jags Chambers
Angels lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.)

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