The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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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Light Up The Sky
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.