“Seven Spanish Angels’ is the title of a song written by Troy Seals and Eddie Setser, and recorded by American country music artist Willie Nelson as a duet with Ray Charles. It was released in November 1984 as the first single from the album Half Nelson. Half Nelson is a compilation album of duets performed by Willie Nelson along with various other artists, released in 1985. It also includes a few never-before released hits as well. “Seven Spanish Angels” was the most successful of Ray Charles’ eight hits on the country chart. The single spent one week at number one and a total of twelve weeks on the country chart.

“In 1983 and ’84, Charles recorded his first two country albums since the second Modern Sounds, and in March of 1985 Willie Nelson duet “Seven Spanish Angels” gave him his first Number One since 1966. A Marty Robbins-esque gunfighter ballad, the song tells the story of a pair of Mexican bandits who lose their life to a posse of bounty hunters attempting to bring them back to Texas. After the dude gets shot in his attempt to escape, the lady points his empty gun at his attackers, ensuring that she will suffer the same fate.”
– Rolling Stone Magazine

In the song, Ray Charles sings the first verse about the man’s part of the battle. Willie Nelson takes the second verse, where the woman engages in the battle on her now-deceased boyfriend’s behalf. Great collaboration from the two giants!

Studio version:

Seven Spanish Angels (Lyrics):
He looked down into her brown eyes and said, Say a prayer for me
She threw her arms around him whispered, God will keep us free
They could hear the riders coming he said, “This is my last fight
If they take me back to Texas they won’t take me back alive”

There were seven Spanish angels at the altar of the sun
They were praying for the lovers in the valley of the guns
When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared
There was thunder from the throne
And seven Spanish angels took another angel home

She reached down and picked the gun up that lay smokin’ in his hand
She said, Father please forgive me I can’t make it without my man
And she knew the gun was empty and she knew she couldn’t win
But her final prayer was answered when the rifles fired again

There were seven Spanish angels at the altar of the sun
They were praying for the lovers in the valley of the guns
When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared
There was thunder from the throne
And seven Spanish angels took another angel home

There were seven Spanish angels at the altar of the sun
They were praying for the lovers in the valley of the guns
When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared
There was thunder from the throne
And seven Spanish angels took another angel home
Alright John help me now

There were seven Spanish angels at the altarof the sun
They were praying for the lovers in the valley of the guns
When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared
There was thunder from the throne
And seven Spanish angels took another angel home

– Hallgeir