She Talks to Angels
Last week while I was getting ready for work I listened to the song, "She Talks to Angels" by the Black Crowes. For those of you who are not familiar with the Black Crowes, they are a blues rock band who came to fame in the early 90s. Their lead singer, Chris Robinson, was married to Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn's daughter. This song always bring back memories. The first memory is of an old friend from college, Bill. But I can't think of Bill without thinking of Mary a client who I met about 15 years after Bill.
I worked with Bill at the Blackeyed Pea. We worked together waiting tables at the University of Houston location. I was a freshman and Bill was a 42 year old from New Orleans who used to work doubles almost every day to pay for his vices, drinking and gambling. I was 18 and working my way through school and often worked doubles myself, so we developed a friendship.
After work we used to frequent local watering holes. There was a dive across the street from the law school that we spent a lot of time at. We'd play pool and have a couple of pitchers of beer. The bar had a jukebox. I would always put in a dollar to listen to music and I always included "She Talks to Angels" in my mix of songs.
I went on to law school and later the Galveston DA's office before starting my private practice. I am not sure what became of Bill. I met Mary some years later. I represented her in Harris County Criminal Court at Law #12, Judge Robin Brown. Mary was charged with Assault, a Class A Misdemeanor. There was going to be no plea bargain with Mary. It was either trial or dismissal.
It had become personal for her. She got in a fight with another woman in her trailer park and since she got the better end of the fight, she was charged. The fight was over music. When I asked her how music could lead to a fight, she explained to me that a particular song always reminded her of her old man. She was drinking and upset because he had left her and was listening to this song. A friend of her's came into her trailer and jokingly began picking on her by turning off her stereo. Mary warned her that if she did it again she was going to be sorry. Well guess what? She was sorry. Mary popped her and the fight ensued with Mary throwing her friend out of the trailer, who in turn called the police.
When I asked Mary what song was so important to fight over, she told me it was "She Talks to Angels" by the Black Crowes. Not only that, it was the rare acoustic version. I knew exactly where Mary was coming from. Mary turned out alright, at least in regards to this case. It was dismissed when the State was unable to locate her friend.