I thought I'd go up Poughkeepsie,
look out o'er the Hudson,
and I'd throw my body down on the river
And I'd know no more sorrow,
I'd fly like the sparrow
and I'd ride on the backs of the angels tonight

I'd ride on the backs of the angels tonight
I'd take to the sky with all my might
No more drowning in my sorrow,
no more drowning in my fright,
I'd just ride on the backs of the angels tonight

There are those who know sorrow
and those who must borrow
and those whose lot in life is sweet
Well I'm drunk on self-pity,
scorned all that's been given me,
I would drink from a bottle labeled Sure Defeat

I'd ride on the backs of the angels tonight
I'd take to the sky with all my might
No more drowning in my sorrow,
no more drowning in my fright,
I'd just ride on the backs of the angels tonight

Then the skies, they fell open
and my eyes were opened
to a world of hope falling at my feet
Now I've no more or less
than anyone else has,
what I have is a gift of life I can't repeat

So I go up Poughkeepsie,
look out o'er the Hudson
and I cast my worries to the sky
Now I still know sorrow,
but I can fly like the sparrow
'cause I ride on the backs of the angels tonight

I ride on the backs of the angels tonight
I take to the sky with all their might
No more drowning in my sorrow,
no more drowning in my fright,
I'll just ride on the backs of the angels each night