From the Levitate (album) .. 2009. The song is named after Mike Rafael, involved in the SCKBSTD production.
Michael Raphael features: Bruce Hornsby (piano, dulcimer, vocals, keyboards); Bobby Read (reeds); J.V. Collier (bass); Sonny Emory (drums); J.T. Thomas (organ, keyboards); Doug Derryberry (guitar); Blake Mills (guitar).
Michael Raphael meaning
“Michael Raphael” by Bruce Hornsby uses humour and religious imagery to depict a playful but meaningful inner conflict. The song reflects on the duality of human impulses, personified by two archangels—Michael and Raphael—who represent opposing forces in the narrator’s behaviour. The reference to childhood cartoons, where angels and devils sat on characters’ shoulders to advise them, sets the stage for a deeper exploration of personal struggles between aggression and calm, temptation and restraint.
The song mixes lighthearted banter with spiritual elements, making it both accessible and reflective. By invoking the figures of Saint Michael and Saint Raphael, the song brings together a dialogue between these angels, asking them to influence the narrator’s choices.
Cartoons and childhood references
The opening lines of the song, “Remember those cartoons we watched when we were younger / Opposing angels sat there on Bugs’ and Daffy’s shoulders,” directly reference classic cartoons like *Looney Tunes* where characters, such as Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck, would have an angel and a devil on their shoulders, each trying to steer them in different directions. This visual serves as a metaphor for the narrator’s current situation, where he experiences conflicting thoughts and impulses.
This childhood reference ties in with the larger theme of moral guidance, making it both relatable and humorous. The song suggests that the same inner conflicts present in cartoon characters also affect adults in real life, albeit with higher stakes.
Saint Michael as a symbol of aggression and power
In Christian tradition, Saint Michael is the archangel who leads the forces of heaven in their fight against evil, often associated with strength, justice, and protection. In this song, however, Saint Michael takes on a slightly mischievous role, tempting the narrator toward more reckless behaviour. Lines like “Chiding me and tempting me with aggressive reckless speed” and “Saint Michael is the angel who inspires us to fight” suggest that the narrator’s urge to engage in risky activities, such as tailgating and speeding, is influenced by Michael’s warrior-like energy.
This portrayal of Saint Michael reflects the temptation to act out in forceful, competitive, or even dangerous ways. Rather than simply representing a righteous warrior, Michael here embodies the part of the narrator’s psyche that wants to take risks and assert control.
Saint Raphael as a symbol of healing and kindness
In contrast to Saint Michael, Saint Raphael is known in Christian tradition as the archangel of healing and guidance. Raphael’s influence is evident in lines like “Calming me and soothing me with heaven’s healing grace” and “Saint Raphael’s the angel who doesn’t need to win.” These lines highlight Raphael’s role in encouraging more patient, courteous, and compassionate behaviour, serving as a counterbalance to Michael’s aggressive tendencies.
Raphael represents the part of the narrator’s mind that seeks peace, understanding, and gentleness, offering a sense of balance and wisdom in situations where rash behaviour might otherwise take over.
The Cherubim and Seraphim
The repeated references to “The Cherubim, The Seraphim” invoke the highest ranks of angels in Christian hierarchy. The Cherubim are known as guardians of the divine, while the Seraphim are associated with purity and closeness to God. In the song, these angelic orders serve as a backdrop to the personal, moral struggles the narrator faces, adding a spiritual dimension to the tension between aggression and compassion.
These references to high-ranking angels amplify the sense that the narrator’s choices are part of a larger, more cosmic conflict between different moral and behavioural influences. The use of religious imagery elevates the inner turmoil to something almost sacred.
A personal plea for guidance
Throughout Michael Raphael, the narrator pleads with both Michael and Raphael for release and guidance. Lines like “Saint Michael, please don’t tease me” and “Saint Raphael, please guide me” reflect the narrator’s struggle to reconcile these opposing forces. The use of the phrase “A gospel hymn for life and limb” adds a spiritual, almost prayer-like quality to the plea, reinforcing the idea that the narrator is seeking divine assistance in navigating his choices.
In the final verse, the narrator appears to accept that both Michael and Raphael play essential roles in his life, asking them to “decide” for him. This suggests a resolution in which the narrator realises that both aggression and kindness are necessary aspects of his nature, and he needs to find a balance between them.
A humorous, spiritual reflection
“Michael Raphael” blends lighthearted humour with spiritual themes, using the figures of Saint Michael and Saint Raphael to represent the inner conflicts we all face. The song cleverly contrasts aggressive, reckless impulses with more peaceful, healing ones, ultimately pointing to the need for balance. The use of childhood cartoon imagery brings a nostalgic and accessible dimension to this reflection, making it both entertaining and insightful.
Bruce captures the push and pull of these opposing forces in a playful yet profound way, allowing listeners to reflect on their own struggles between impulsiveness and restraint, and the importance of finding harmony in their actions.