Patsy Cline – I Can See an Angel

About The Song

“I Can See an Angel” is a classic country ballad recorded by Patsy Cline and released as a single in 1957 by Decca Records (catalog number 30321), with “Come On In (And Make Yourself at Home)” as the B-side on some pressings. Written by Joy Faye, the song was recorded on August 10, 1957, at Bradley Studios in Nashville, Tennessee (or the Jewell Theatre in Springfield, Missouri per some session notes), during her time with 4 Star Records (distributed through Decca). Produced in a straightforward traditional country style, the track runs approximately 2:22 and features Cline’s warm, heartfelt vocals backed by acoustic guitar, rhythm section, and subtle harmonies—typical of her early material before the fuller Nashville Sound production of the 1960s.

By 1957, Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, in Gore, Virginia) was riding the momentum of her breakthrough hit “Walkin’ After Midnight,” released earlier that year, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard country chart and No. 12 on the Hot 100 after her victory on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. “I Can See an Angel” followed as part of her push to capitalize on that success, but it did not chart on the Billboard country or pop lists, remaining a non-hit single and album track. It appeared on her self-titled debut album Patsy Cline (Decca, August 5, 1957), which compiled her early 4 Star recordings, and on various EPs such as Decca 45 EP-38 (“Just Out of Reach / I Can See an Angel”) in 1958.

The lyrics describe a woman who has lost her lover and now sees an “angel” in her dreams or visions—symbolizing either divine comfort, a heavenly reunion, or the lingering presence of her lost love—conveying deep sorrow and spiritual longing. The song’s theme of grief and otherworldly solace fits the traditional country ballad style of the era. Though not a commercial success like her later Decca smashes (“Crazy,” “I Fall to Pieces”), “I Can See an Angel” has been praised for showcasing Cline’s early emotional depth and vocal sincerity. It has been reissued extensively on budget compilations, posthumous collections such as Hilltop’s Today, Tomorrow, and Forever (1964), Everest’s Patsy Cline’s Golden Hits (1962), Bear Family reissues of her 4 Star era, and modern anthologies like The Patsy Cline Collection (1991) and Her Original Four Star Hits.

Behind the scenes, the August 1957 recording captured Cline during a transitional phase, blending her honky-tonk roots with emerging polish under Owen Bradley’s influence. The track remains a valued entry in her pre-breakthrough catalog, often grouped with other early sides like “Just Out of Reach” and “Come On In.” It stands as a heartfelt example of her interpretive talent in the 1950s, before her tragic death in a plane crash on March 5, 1963, at age 30. “I Can See an Angel” continues to appear in classic country playlists and compilations as a poignant reminder of her early artistry and emotional range.

Video

Lyric

I can see an angel
Looking down on me
I can see an angel
Smiling tenderly

He tells me not to worry
He tells me not to cry
He says that you’ll be coming back
To me by and by

I can see an angel
Watching over me
I can see an angel
Setting my heart free

Though you’re gone forever
And our love is through
I can see an angel
And the angel looks like you