AT THE COMPLETION OF THE GOLDEN GATE
                    NO THE ANGELS DID NOT CELEBRATE
                    AND WHEN THE WRIGHT BOYS FLEW THEIR BIRD
                    NO ANGELIC SHOUTS WERE HEARD
                    THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT WE'RE SURE ABOUT
                    THAT CAN MAKE THOSE ANGELS JUMP AND SHOUT
                    IT'S WHEN A SINNER MAKES THE LORD HIS CHOICE
                    THAT'S WHEN THE ANGELS REJOICE

                    NOW WHEN THE LIGHT BULB FIRST LIT UP THE TOWN
                    NO THE ANGELS DID NOT DANCE AROUND
                    AND WHEN THE MAN STEPPED ON THE MOON

 		 
 

                    THEY DIDN'T SING A VICTORY TUNE
                    THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT WE'RE SURE ABOUT
                    THAT CAN MAKE THOSE ANGELS JUMP AND SHOUT 
                    IT'S WHEN A SINNER HEEDS THE SAVIOR'S VOICE
                    THAT'S WHEN THE ANGELS REJOICE

                    NOW HEAVEN DOESN'T STRIKE UP THE BAND
                    FOR ANY OLD OCCASION AT HAND
                    IT'S GOT TO BE A SPECIAL THING
                    TO MAKE THOSE ANGELS SING

                    NOW WHEN THE MODEL T FIRST HIT THE STREET
                    IT DIDN'T BRING ALL HEAVEN TO ITS FEET
                    AND WHEN THE FIRST COMPUTER WAS BORN
                    THEY DIDN'T BLOW OLD GABRIEL'S HORN
                    THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT WE'RE SURE ABOUT
                    THAT CAN MAKE THOSE ANGELS JUMP AND SHOUT
                    IT'S WHEN A SINNER MAKES THE LORD HIS CHOICE
                    THAT'S WHEN THE ANGELS REJOICE

                    NOW WHEN THE UNITED STATES BECAME A NATION
                    THERE WAS NO ANGELIC CELEBRATION
                    BUT ONE LOST SINNER COMES BACK HOME
                    THEY DANCE FOR JOY AROUND GOD'S THRONE

                  

Click here for a printable lyric

 

  

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****SONGWRITING NOTES****

*This song was inspired by my home church preacher, Wayne Smith. During a service, a person had come forward to accept Jesus. Wayne said "you know, when they flew the first airplane, the angels didn't rejoice, but this one person coming to Christ is causing a celebration in heaven."

*The "when the light bulb first lit up the town" line was originally "when a cure for polio was found". The publisher didn't like the idea of putting a "negative" association in the song by referring to polio (even though mentioned in a positive light) so I changed it.

*The only regret I have lyrically is using the songwriter's nightmare word "that" twice in such close proximity and can't believe I never caught it ("there's only one thing THAT we're sure about THAT can make those angels....)---ugh!!!

*The Gaither Vocal Band recorded a version of this song, and their rendition is actually closer to the originally-intended style than my own. We just started having fun in the studio and the song kinda went where it wanted style-wise. I love the background vocals on my version, though, and give producer Joe Huffman all the credit. We had worked all day trying to come up with suitable (standard-type) parts and nothing was working. He just started coming up with these off-the-wall harmonies and kept saying "try this" and it all came together like a stroke of (Godly) genius.