About the song
Background
- Released in 1990 on Randy Travis’s album “This Is Me”.
- The songwriter is credited to Don Schlitz.
- The song tells the story of a peculiar man named Oscar who walks the streets proclaiming himself to be an angel.
Themes
- Faith and the afterlife: The central theme is Oscar’s belief that everyone will go to heaven and become angels.
- Compassion and understanding: The narrator reflects on Oscar’s kindness despite being considered odd by others.
- Life’s impermanence: The lyrics touch on how our actions in this world hold little weight compared to the eternal.
Lyrics
The song follows a simple structure with verses describing Oscar and the narrator’s interactions, and a repeated chorus that captures Oscar’s message:
- Verse 1 introduces Oscar, a local fixture who shouts prophecies, walks long distances, and seems a little off-kilter.
- Chorus relays Oscar’s core belief: everyone will die and become angels, our earthly struggles don’t matter because we’re just lost children on a journey.
- Verse 2 reveals the narrator works at a movie theater and lets Oscar in for free despite him repeatedly watching the same films.
- Chorus repeats.
- Verse 3 The narrator revisits their hometown years later and learns Oscar has been institutionalized and passed away.
- The narrator acknowledges Oscar’s eccentricities but highlights his kindness and lack of judgment.
- The song ends with a reflection on true character.
Overall, “Oscar the Angel” offers a heartwarming perspective on faith, acceptance, and the enduring value of kindness.
Video
Lyrics
Oscar was an angel and he used to walk the streets
Shoutin’ out some prophesies at everyone he’d meet He was a local fixture; like a cop out on a beat Folks said he’d been shell-shocked long ago And more than that for no one seemed to knowOscar was a walker; at least four miles twice a day
The entire lenght of Main Street he’d be shoutin’ all the way And I had no idea where he heard the things he’d say But he was not your normal voice of doom; It was a happy song, sung slightly out of tuneAnd he’d say, “Everyone will die and go to heaven
And we will all be angels someday And what you are in this world don’t count for nothin’ ‘Cause we are only children, we’re just lost along the way, But we will all be angels someday”Well, I worked at the Rialto; I sold tickets at the door
And Oscar, he’d come by most everyday by half past four And he’d pay to see some movie That he’d seen ten times before But mostly we’d just let him in for free Then he’d watch five minutes, Then he’d come and talk to meAnd he’d say, “Everyone will die and go to heaven
And we will all be angels someday And what you are in this world don’t count for nothin’ ‘Cause we are only children, we’re just lost along the way, But we will all be angels someday”Well, it’s going on ten years now
Since I left my hometown And I went back last summer For a week I hung around I looked out for Oscar, he was no where to be found And someone said they finally had to commit him And he died before they had time to forget himNow, I’m not about to argue,
Oscar’s train had jumped the track But I’ll bet my last dollar on the plain and simple fact Oscar never said a word about me behind my back And the way that I was raised to understand Well, that alone, it makes him the better manAnd he’d say, “Everyone will die and go to heaven
And we will all be angels someday And what you are in this world don’t count for nothin’ ‘Cause we are only children, we’re just lost along the way, But we will all be angels someday”Yeah, we will all be angels someday…