Country Music

Classic Country Music Hits

Country Music

Charlie Pride – Kiss an Angel Good Morning

“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”

Introduction

Picture a cold winter morning in 1971, when country music legend Charley Pride first introduced the world to a song that would become a timeless classic. “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’,” with its simple yet heartfelt message, is a tune that still resonates with audiences, reminding us of the power of love and kindness in our everyday lives.

About The Composition

  • Title: Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’
  • Composer: Ben Peters
  • Premiere Date: October 1971
  • Album: Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs
  • Genre: Country

Background

Written by Ben Peters, “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” became one of Charley Pride’s most iconic hits. The song was released in 1971 as a single from the album Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs. The inspiration behind the song is rooted in its lyrical simplicity and universal appeal—celebrating love’s ability to bring joy and stability. It became Pride’s eighth number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and earned him widespread recognition beyond country music.

The song’s reception was overwhelmingly positive, resonating with fans for its relatable and uplifting lyrics. It won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1972, cementing its place in the history of country music.

Musical Style

“Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” is characterized by its straightforward melody, traditional country instrumentation, and an easygoing rhythm. The track’s use of steel guitar, a hallmark of the genre, pairs beautifully with Pride’s warm and distinctive baritone voice. Its simplicity is its strength, creating an inviting and memorable listening experience.

Lyrics

The lyrics of “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” tell a story of a man whose happiness stems from the love he shares with his wife. The central theme revolves around the daily ritual of showing affection and the profound impact it has on his outlook on life. The line “Kiss an angel good mornin’, and let her know you think about her when you’re gone” encapsulates the essence of the song—celebrating love’s small but meaningful gestures.

Performance History

Upon its release, “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” dominated the country charts, reaching the top position on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and peaking at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, a rare feat for a country song at the time. Charley Pride’s performances of the song, both live and on television, further boosted its popularity, making it a staple in his concerts and one of his signature pieces.

Cultural Impact

The song transcended the boundaries of country music, appealing to a broader audience and showcasing Pride’s ability to connect with listeners across genres. It has been covered by numerous artists over the years, further cementing its status as a classic. The message of cherishing love and expressing it daily has made the song a cultural touchstone, often featured in romantic playlists and family gatherings.

Legacy

“Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” remains one of Charley Pride’s most enduring contributions to country music. Its timeless message, coupled with its memorable melody, continues to inspire both listeners and performers. The song not only highlights the importance of love in everyday life but also serves as a reminder of Charley Pride’s groundbreaking role in country music history as one of its first Black superstars.

Conclusion

“Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” is more than just a song—it’s a celebration of love’s simplicity and power. Whether you’re a longtime country music fan or a newcomer to the genre, this classic is a must-listen. For a truly remarkable rendition, I recommend Charley Pride’s live performance at the Grand Ole Opry—it’s a testament to the song’s enduring charm and Pride’s incredible talent.

Let this song remind you to take a moment every day to show love to those who matter most. It might just make your day—and theirs—a little brighter

Video

Lyrics

… When ever I chance to meet, old friends on the street
They wonder how does a man get to be this way
Always got a smiling face, anytime and any place
And every time they ask me why I just smile and say
… ‘Cause you’ve got to kiss an angel good morning
And let her know you think about her when you’re gone
Kiss an angel good morning
And love her like the devil when you get back home
… Though people may try to guess, the secret of our happiness
But some of them never learn it’s a simple thing
The secret I’ma speaking of, is a woman and a man in love
And the answer is in this song that I always sing
… ‘Cause you’ve got to kiss an angel good morning
And let her know you think about her when you’re gone
Kiss an angel good morning
And love her like the devil when you get back home
… Kiss an angel good morning
And let her know you think about her when you’re gone
Kiss an angel good morning
And love her like the devil when you get back home

Related Post

Country Music

On October 4, 1978, Tammy Wynette returned to her yellow Cadillac after shopping for her daughter’s birthday and said she found a masked man waiting in the back seat with a gun. According to the account she gave investigators, the man ordered her to drive south from Nashville, wrapped pantyhose around her neck, struck her repeatedly and eventually took control of the car himself. Roughly eighty miles later, near the Alabama state line, Tammy said she was dragged from the vehicle and left beside a rural road while her attacker escaped in another car. She was treated for bruises and injuries to her face and neck. The strangest part was what the attacker did not take. Tammy still had her money and credit cards, no ransom was demanded, and investigators admitted they could not establish a clear motive. In the weeks that followed, her Nashville home was guarded around the clock while Tammy described looking at unfamiliar cars and wondering whether the man had returned. The mystery became even more complicated after her death. Two of Tammy’s daughters later alleged in separate memoirs that the kidnapping story had been invented to hide injuries caused by her husband, George Richey. Richey denied allegations of abuse, and no evidence ever conclusively established either version. No attacker was arrested. What remains certain is that one of country music’s most famous women appeared in public in October 1978 bruised and injured, told police she had survived an abduction, and spent the aftermath living behind barred windows, security guards and a question Nashville never managed to answer.

Country Music

Loretta Lynn was lying in a hospital recovering from exhaustion in July 1984 when her family realized that her son Jack Benny had disappeared from the family ranch. Jack, thirty-four, trained horses and worked as a blacksmith on the Hurricane Mills property. After an argument with his father, he rode away on horseback and did not return. His horse was later found near the Duck River, and search crews began dragging the water while Loretta remained in the hospital, unaware of what they were looking for. For three days, the family searched before Jack’s body was found. Loretta later remembered that something already felt wrong before anyone told her. Her husband, Doo, finally drove to the hospital and gave her the news himself. The loss hit the family hard enough that Loretta stepped back from work for an extended period. Her son Ernest later recalled that they barely worked for nearly three years afterward, a remarkable pause for a woman who had spent most of her adult life moving from stage to stage. Jack’s death never became one of the highly publicized chapters of Loretta’s career, but it changed the rhythm of the family behind it. The woman who had spent decades singing about marriage, motherhood and survival suddenly faced something none of those songs could prepare her for: one of her own children was gone, and there was no stage she could walk onto to make the story come out differently.

Country Music

By the late 1990s, Levon Helm had survived the breakup of The Band, a fire that destroyed most of his home, and throat cancer that left the voice behind “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” barely able to rise above a whisper. Doctors diagnosed the cancer in 1996, and treatment damaged his vocal cords badly enough that singing became uncertain. Helm retreated to the property he had built in Woodstock, New York, where a large wooden barn already served as a recording studio. Instead of walking away from music, he began inviting musicians and small audiences into that room for informal late-night concerts that eventually became known as the Midnight Rambles. The gatherings started as much from necessity as inspiration. Helm needed income to keep the property and studio alive, but the barn also gave him something a large theater could not: a place where he could rebuild his voice slowly, surrounded by musicians who understood when he needed to step back and let the band carry a song. Over time, the whisper strengthened enough for him to sing again. In 2007, more than a decade after the cancer diagnosis, Helm recorded *Dirt Farmer* in the barn, drawing on songs he had learned as a child from his father in Arkansas. The album won a Grammy, followed by two more Grammy-winning projects, including *Ramble at the Ryman*. By then, the building that had once helped Helm survive financially had become a destination of its own, drawing musicians and fans from around the world. Just days before his death in 2012, he left his family a simple instruction about the Rambles he had built there: keep them going. The voice came back, but the larger comeback happened inside the barn itself, where Levon Helm turned the place he was trying to save into the place that saved the final chapter of his career.

You Missed

Country Music

On October 4, 1978, Tammy Wynette returned to her yellow Cadillac after shopping for her daughter’s birthday and said she found a masked man waiting in the back seat with a gun. According to the account she gave investigators, the man ordered her to drive south from Nashville, wrapped pantyhose around her neck, struck her repeatedly and eventually took control of the car himself. Roughly eighty miles later, near the Alabama state line, Tammy said she was dragged from the vehicle and left beside a rural road while her attacker escaped in another car. She was treated for bruises and injuries to her face and neck. The strangest part was what the attacker did not take. Tammy still had her money and credit cards, no ransom was demanded, and investigators admitted they could not establish a clear motive. In the weeks that followed, her Nashville home was guarded around the clock while Tammy described looking at unfamiliar cars and wondering whether the man had returned. The mystery became even more complicated after her death. Two of Tammy’s daughters later alleged in separate memoirs that the kidnapping story had been invented to hide injuries caused by her husband, George Richey. Richey denied allegations of abuse, and no evidence ever conclusively established either version. No attacker was arrested. What remains certain is that one of country music’s most famous women appeared in public in October 1978 bruised and injured, told police she had survived an abduction, and spent the aftermath living behind barred windows, security guards and a question Nashville never managed to answer.

Country Music

Loretta Lynn was lying in a hospital recovering from exhaustion in July 1984 when her family realized that her son Jack Benny had disappeared from the family ranch. Jack, thirty-four, trained horses and worked as a blacksmith on the Hurricane Mills property. After an argument with his father, he rode away on horseback and did not return. His horse was later found near the Duck River, and search crews began dragging the water while Loretta remained in the hospital, unaware of what they were looking for. For three days, the family searched before Jack’s body was found. Loretta later remembered that something already felt wrong before anyone told her. Her husband, Doo, finally drove to the hospital and gave her the news himself. The loss hit the family hard enough that Loretta stepped back from work for an extended period. Her son Ernest later recalled that they barely worked for nearly three years afterward, a remarkable pause for a woman who had spent most of her adult life moving from stage to stage. Jack’s death never became one of the highly publicized chapters of Loretta’s career, but it changed the rhythm of the family behind it. The woman who had spent decades singing about marriage, motherhood and survival suddenly faced something none of those songs could prepare her for: one of her own children was gone, and there was no stage she could walk onto to make the story come out differently.

Country Music

By the late 1990s, Levon Helm had survived the breakup of The Band, a fire that destroyed most of his home, and throat cancer that left the voice behind “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” barely able to rise above a whisper. Doctors diagnosed the cancer in 1996, and treatment damaged his vocal cords badly enough that singing became uncertain. Helm retreated to the property he had built in Woodstock, New York, where a large wooden barn already served as a recording studio. Instead of walking away from music, he began inviting musicians and small audiences into that room for informal late-night concerts that eventually became known as the Midnight Rambles. The gatherings started as much from necessity as inspiration. Helm needed income to keep the property and studio alive, but the barn also gave him something a large theater could not: a place where he could rebuild his voice slowly, surrounded by musicians who understood when he needed to step back and let the band carry a song. Over time, the whisper strengthened enough for him to sing again. In 2007, more than a decade after the cancer diagnosis, Helm recorded *Dirt Farmer* in the barn, drawing on songs he had learned as a child from his father in Arkansas. The album won a Grammy, followed by two more Grammy-winning projects, including *Ramble at the Ryman*. By then, the building that had once helped Helm survive financially had become a destination of its own, drawing musicians and fans from around the world. Just days before his death in 2012, he left his family a simple instruction about the Rambles he had built there: keep them going. The voice came back, but the larger comeback happened inside the barn itself, where Levon Helm turned the place he was trying to save into the place that saved the final chapter of his career.

Country Music

By the fall of 1982, Marty Robbins had already spent more than a decade living on borrowed time, and almost nobody around him could convince him to behave like a man with a damaged heart. His first major heart attack came in August 1969, followed five months later by bypass surgery at a time when the procedure was still considered experimental. The operation worked well enough that Robbins returned not only to recording and the Grand Ole Opry, but to stock-car racing, where he continued driving at speeds that would have frightened men with perfectly healthy hearts. He was back in NASCAR competition by October 1970 and, after briefly stepping away following several wrecks, returned again in 1977. The contradiction became part of his life. Doctors had repaired blocked arteries, yet Robbins kept filling his calendar with concerts, recording sessions and race weekends, treating recovery less like a warning than permission to keep moving. One of his physicians later remembered that before agreeing to the first bypass operation, Marty wanted reassurance that he would still be allowed to race, and within weeks of leaving the hospital he was already back doing physical work around home. By 1982, the gamble seemed to be paying off in ways few aging country singers experienced. “Some Memories Just Won’t Die” became a Top Ten hit in May, Billboard honored him with its Artist Resurgence Award in October, and that same month Robbins was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Nearly thirty years after his first national success, the man behind “El Paso” was not being treated as a relic; he was enjoying one of the strongest late-career stretches of his life. He was still racing as late as November. Then, on December 2, after performing in Cincinnati the previous night, Robbins woke at home with severe chest pain and walked into St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Tests showed that a massive heart attack had cut off blood flow to a major section of his heart, forcing surgeons into an emergency operation to repair earlier bypasses and add another. He survived the surgery, briefly smiled and squeezed a nurse’s hand, but the damage was too severe for his body to recover. For six days, his wife Marizona and their children remained at the hospital while doctors used a respirator, medications, dialysis and a balloon pump to keep his failing heart working. Robbins died on December 8, 1982, only eight weeks after entering the Country Music Hall of Fame and one month after his final NASCAR race. At his funeral in Nashville, roughly 1,500 people filled the chapel, adjoining rooms and hallways while Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Charley Pride, Porter Wagoner, Brenda Lee and other friends gathered with ordinary fans who had traveled through the night to be there. Marty Robbins had spent thirteen years after his first heart attack doing nearly everything doctors might have expected him to surrender. He kept singing, kept racing, returned to the charts, and lived long enough to watch country music place his name in its Hall of Fame before the heart he had repeatedly pushed back into service finally stopped.