Although the song refers to Charlebois’ love of Quebec, Les ailes d’un ange conjures a symbolic imagery of both Quebec and California of the times, such as the need for escapism on North-American highways, the Hell’s Angels mythology and their Quebec version “Satan’s Choice”, hippies, eating guedilles, the anonymity of Montreal’s Main, etc.
In 1969, the movie Easy Rider was number one at the box-office and Canadian group Steppenwolf sang its classic theme song Born to be Wild. Charlebois was the opening act for Steppenwolf at the Montreal Forum that same year and upon hearing Charlebois’ lyrics to Les ailes d’un ange (I’m a Hell’s Angels on foot/I drive like ink on paper/I eat Hot-Dogs and drink tea/ I’m a failed Satan’s Choice), the crowd went wild and Charlebois stole the show.
