I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
She's an ugly girl, does it make you want to kill her?
She's an ugly girl, do you want to kick in her face?
She's an ugly girl, she doesn't pose a threat.
She's an ugly girl, does that make you feel safe?
Ugly girl, ugly girl, do you hate her
'Cause she's pieces of you?
She's a pretty girl, does she make you think nasty thoughts?
She's a pretty girl, do you want to tie her down?
She's a pretty girl, do you call her a bitch?
She's a pretty girl, did she sleep with your whole town?
Pretty girl, pretty girl, do you hate her
'Cause she's pieces of you?
You say he's a fagot, does it make you want to hurt him?
You say he's a fagot, do you want to kick in his brain?
You say he's a fagot, does he make you sick to your stomach?
You say he's a fagot, are you afraid you're just the same?
Fagot, fagot, do you hate him
'Cause he's pieces of you?
You say he's a Jew, does it mean that he's tight?
You say he's a Jew, do you want to hurt his kids tonight?
You say he's a Jew, he'll never wear that funny hat again.
You say he's a Jew as though being born were a sin.
Oh Jew, oh Jew, do you hate him
'Cause he's pieces of you?
Do you hate him
'Cause he's pieces of you?
She's an ugly girl, do you want to kick in her face?
She's an ugly girl, she doesn't pose a threat.
She's an ugly girl, does that make you feel safe?
Ugly girl, ugly girl, do you hate her
'Cause she's pieces of you?
She's a pretty girl, does she make you think nasty thoughts?
She's a pretty girl, do you want to tie her down?
She's a pretty girl, do you call her a bitch?
She's a pretty girl, did she sleep with your whole town?
Pretty girl, pretty girl, do you hate her
'Cause she's pieces of you?
You say he's a fagot, does it make you want to hurt him?
You say he's a fagot, do you want to kick in his brain?
You say he's a fagot, does he make you sick to your stomach?
You say he's a fagot, are you afraid you're just the same?
Fagot, fagot, do you hate him
'Cause he's pieces of you?
You say he's a Jew, does it mean that he's tight?
You say he's a Jew, do you want to hurt his kids tonight?
You say he's a Jew, he'll never wear that funny hat again.
You say he's a Jew as though being born were a sin.
Oh Jew, oh Jew, do you hate him
'Cause he's pieces of you?
Do you hate him
'Cause he's pieces of you?
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Great version of a great song,
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I think that this song is baically telling about people that are in your life and you hate them, or you love them, maybe even jealous of them, because they remind you of a bad part ot yourself that you wish wasnt there. No matter what you do, theres absolutley nothing that can change the fact that they will always be a part of you. As hard as you try to forget they will always be, in essence, "pieces of you", pieces of your life, like it or not.
This is my favourite song by Jewel. I think it's about reflecting your own problems and insecurities on others.
its about prejuidism and how people often hate what reminds them of themselves
well said hobitt420
Heh, thanks I try. What do those stars mean that are by your name? I see random people with those.
'You say he's a Jew, does it mean that he's tight? You say he's a Jew, do you want to hurt his kids tonight? You say he's a Jew, he'll never wear that funny hat again. You say he's a Jew as though being born were a sin. Oh Jew, oh Jew, do you hate him Cause he's pieces of you'
This part always gets to me. I almost think it's about Hitler, because he was actually Jewish. I have no idea if Jewel meant that, but I just thought I'd add that.
Hitler wasn't Jewish. Far from it; he was an anti-Semite who wanted to kill all the Jews.
Hitler wasn't Jewish. It has been speculated that one of his grandparent's was a Jew, but it's never been proven.
i think its about people who criticise(heh..spelling..oh man) other people but in part have those faults more in themselves. like "You say he's a faggot, are you afraid you're just the same?" is saying they'll say someone is a fag to keep themselves from seeing it IN themselves, but truly they are scared that they are the same way, but they dont want people to sense the fear i guess...its hard to explain ahh
I agree!
Does anybody elese think Jewel has sold out since this album??!! cuz i do! this album had so much depth...i just saw her latest video... she does the hole "water scene" like come on! it sux she had to conform! she was soo orginal with her acoustic guitar and her Wikid voice. i miss old Jewel....Peices of you was the best album ever.
this album rocks! her new one..stinks. anybody that likes this album (pieces of you) then you should buy her poetry book--its also amazing! :)
In response to a comment above:
I'm currently working on my PhD in Judiac / Holocaust studies (not that anyone cares, but more as a matter of saying that i'm relatively well-read on the subject), and i just wanted to add that while it makes for a scandalous and intriguing story, there is absolutely no evidence that Hitler was Jewish. The closest connection that can be historically found, concerns his mother being treated by a Jewish doctor, with Hitler writing him a letter of gratitude.
anyway, i like jewel a lot and i really respect her for the message she's trying to convey here: instead of irrational hatred based upon stupid predjudices, people should understand that we're all the same inside. she's also making a great statement about how somtimes it can be quite painful to look in the mirror...and how sometimes we can wind up projecting hatred on to another person or group based upon elements of ourselves that we are ashamed of..or wish that we could change.
oh the downside, there are a few instances where her lyrical choices are pretty sketchy and even downright embarassingly bad: "faaagoooot, faaaagooot", "oh jewww, oh jewww", "she's an ugly girl, does it make you want to kill her?". i think a little more subtlety would have been a great asset to this particular song.