I had been listening to a lot of Ray Wylie Hubbard; mesmerized by his story telling and conversations with Lucifer. If you take the time to really listen to the stories, you discover how honest and biographical his style can be at times. For a songwriter to be able to reach that level of vulnerability is to me the holy grail of songwriting.
About the same time I was writing songs for "Brand New Me." I had been writing songs about reflection and transformation; about discovering the strength to overcome your past to become a better person. Ray Wylie seemed like just the inspiration I needed to come up with something a little different. And so I began to write "When the Devil Wants Your Angel."
To keep this to a short read (SPOILER ALERT), the devil in 'When the Devil Wants Your Angel" is in fact; me. Or at least a representation of an earlier version of me. Alicia of course would be my wife. Coming to terms with the man you are or maybe once were is never easy. My father inspired me to continually look myself in the mirror and question myself and my actions. Admitting you can do better means accepting some truths about yourself you may not like. That's not an easy task. But if you're determined to leave this world a better person than when you entered it, it's going to take work. For some, like me, a LOT of work.
"Devil" is about introspection and the metaphor is a simple one. The power of true love is great and can move mountains. In this story, it has the ability to bring out the best in a man through the love of his partner. We as men often think we know what a woman wants when in reality we have no clue. After 54 years on this earth, I have come to the conclusion that the majority of women, at the root, simply want a man whose heart is pure and true. And for some men, it takes the right angel to help them discover that in themselves.