Only Angel (song)

**Only Angel** is a song performed by Harry Styles. It is the sixth track from *Harry Styles*.

## Background

*Only Angel* first appeared as the sixth track on Harry's debut album, *Harry Styles*. He performed the song throughout *Live On Tour* and *Love On Tour.*

Harry told Grimmy of BBC:

> "Only Angel I wrote and recorded in my house in London. It's perky. Last night I listened to it one last time before it was out. I went for a walk, it hit midnight and it was raining. It was a very emotional experience."
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## Music and composition

The track continues the 70s rock-influenced sound heard throughout Harry’s self-titled debut, and the repeated “Ooh-ooh-hoo” hook is very likely a reference to the similar one at the end of each verse in Electric Light Orchestra’s classic tune, “Don’t Bring Me Down”.

## Critical Reception

Variety writer Eve Barlow stated:

> "Styles springing to life while being given temporary bail from the prison that is his aching heart. Owing a lot of his current poise to a certain Rolling Stone, he wears the soul claps and ‘woo-hoo’s of “Only Angel” as though he’s the lost child of Jagger himself. Styles’ vocal leaps and yelps, pounding with liberated, natural sex appeal."
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HB In Retrospect opined:

> "This is my favorite song on this album. Period. The track starts off with a choir-like, ethereal intro which is just perfection and then suddenly, it flips a switch into a catchy rock song. I love how this song embraces its rock influences, and the heavy drums work seamlessly with the electric guitar and piano. I love singing this in the car and there’s a reason why it’s my favorite. It’s amazing."
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## Lyrics

It was an angel

I really saw an angel

Open up your eyes, shut your mouth and see

That I'm still the only one who's been in love with me

I'll guess I'll be getting you stuck in between my teeth

And there's nothing I can do about it

Broke a finger knocking on your bedroom door

I got splinters in my knuckles crawling across the floor

Couldn't you take home to mother in a skirt that short

But I think that's what I like about it

She's an angel

Only angel

She's an angel

My only angel

I must admit I thought I'd like to make you mine

As I went about my business through the warning signs

And end up meeting in the hallway every single time

And there's nothing we can do about it

Told it to her brother and she told it to me

That she's gonna be angel, just you wait and see

When it turns out she's a devil in between the sheets

And there's nothing she can do about it

Hey, hey

She's an angel

Only angel

She's an angel

My only angel

She's an angel

Only angel

She's an angel

My only angel

She's an angel

Only angel

She's an angel

My only angel

She's an angel

Only angel

She's an angel

My-my-my only angel

## References

1. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/XDL6lwWB6yqxYMkl4nwxM9/harry-styles-reveals-the-secrets-of-his-debut-solo-album
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=27s&v=z9nkzaOPP6g&feature=youtu.be
3. ↑ https://genius.com/artists/Electric-light-orchestra
4. ↑ https://genius.com/Electric-light-orchestra-dont-bring-me-down-lyrics
5. ↑ variety.com - Track review
6. ↑ https://hbinretrospect.com/2020/11/08/a-track-by-track-review-of-harry-styles-self-titled-album/