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Start Out As Angels

from The Superstore by Stephen Simmons

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lyrics

START OUT AS ANGELS

Well sometimes I think about Tony Williams. He used to sit behind me in first grade
And we both got in trouble one day, I knew he should of never listened to me anyways
Out assignment was simple, color the picture in blue and pink
We decided a little red was all it’d need, and we colored up all over the page
Well Mrs. Carter was swift and mean, made an example for all the other kids to see
Boys and Girls don’t get caught looking like these, trying to color outside the lines
Just to do as you please
Well Tony and me got pretty tight, we had the same last name so we’s always next in line
It didn’t matter he was black and I was white, least not when we were five
I never saw Tony much more after about the fifth grade
His parents picked up and moved away, I heard they had family somewhere out of state

Well I finished school in eighty-two and Went to Junior College like a lot of folks do
But somewhere among all that knowledge, I got a different calling about what really wanted to do
I went through the Academy and I joined the Force
My parents were proud and they gave me their support
Sarah and I married in eighty-four, and three years later they moved me to Detroit
Well after ten hard years I worked my way up to Vice, and I fought the good fight
And I fought to stay alive
Cause I had three kids in the Suburbs and a wife, who made me always swear that I would survive

It was a routine bust, supposed to be neat and clean. They were gonna seize the house
And I was gonna watch the street.
All these dealers think they can just do as they please, we were gonna hit ‘em hard
Make examples of these.
But something went wrong, and shots were fired. And I heard it on the short wave like God almighty
Two officers down and the bust was blown, suspect was headed for the street
And he was armed and alone
Me and Jim took position, we sealed off the street. There was only one way out
And that was through him and me. I said a little prayer and Jim nodded at me
Then I thought of my kids and gritted my teeth.
He came busting out the door running for his life, I yelled, “Freeze” and drew but I was paralyzed
Stood there in a moment that’s still frozen in time. Just stood there staring in Tony Williams eyes
Well Jim opened fire and put two rounds in his side, and I kneeled beside Tony
And slowly watched him die. I took his hand and looked in his eyes
And I know he recognized me, that’s why he never fired

We all start out as Angels
But this World teaches us to hate
Damn the World for making things this way
Damn the Government, Damn the State
You damn the ones that you say you hate
But damn yourselves when you’re to blame

credits

from The Superstore, released October 15, 2001
Stephen Simmons: vocals, acoustic guitar

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Stephen Simmons Nashville, Tennessee

Stephen Simmons was raised in the small town of Woodbury, Tennessee. As a songwriter and Ten years as a Road Dog, Stephen’s vision has grown to entail more than just reflections of rural America. Stephen’s records (which were compared to everyone from Johnny Cash to Ryan Adams) combine virtuosic songcraft and musicianship with unparalleled artistic honesty. ... more

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