Robbie Williams’s signature song, a number one hit that saved what had, until that point, been a stuttering start to his solo career.

In 1995, Irish singer/songwriter Ray Heffernan randomly ran into Williams in a pub. They talked music and eventually Heffernan showed Williams a song he’d been writing called “An Angel Instead”. They worked on it together and recorded a demo.

In 1997, when Heffernan found out that “Angels” was to be a part of Williams' upcoming album, he got back in contact. Williams' people then offered Heffernan £7,500 to renounce any rights to the song, which he accepted.

On a UK CD2 single for the song, there is a note: Even Fallen Angels Laugh Last -
Thanks to Raymond Heffernan

Williams has stated that he is the primary artist behind the song, not Guy Chambers, the professional songwriter. Chambers agrees, stating:

In the main he was responsible for the lyrics and melody, and I did the music. It was very equal. Rob knew exactly what he wanted to say, and how he wanted to say it.