"Ugly Americans" - North… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two bands by this name.
"Ugly Americans" - North Carolina:
A hardcore band from North Carolina who existed between 1983 and 1987. Appearing on V/A - Empty Skulls vol. 2: The Wound Deepens comp, releasing two LP's titled "THE DREAM TURNS SOUR LP" (released on disciple records 1984), "WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED LP" (released on death records, 1986), they also released one 7" titled "PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM" (which was also released by death records in 1986).
"The Ugly Americans" - Austin, Texas
In 1993, cast-offs from several alternative roots outfits (Cracker, Mojo Nixon, Poi Dog Pondering) formed the Ugly Americans in Austin, TX. Bassist Sean McCarthy had organized Atlantic Soul jams at the legendary Antone's club, where he met drummer Dave Robinson, lead guitarist Max Evans, rhythm guitarist Bruce Hughes, and vocalist Bob Schneider. After adding organist David Boyle and earning a spot on 1994's H.O.R.D.E. Tour, the Ugly Americans released a self-titled live album in 1995 and supported the Dave Matthews Band and Big Head Todd & the Monsters. Signed to Capricorn that year, the band worked with producer Don Gehman on their studio debut, Stereophonic Spanish Fly, released in 1996. It was followed two years later by Boom Boom Baby.
Piece of Heaven
Ugly Americans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a bottle by my side
Thought I'd take a little nip
And maybe go out for a ride
And when it touched my skin
The angels opened up their wings
And let me climb on in
A little piece of heaven
Right here on earth
A little piece of heaven
Right here on earth
And the moon shone bright
And I felt so alive
And the world was filled with love
Like a piece of heaven
Well now the wheatfields bathed in moonlight
Round the month of June
Waiting for my ship to roll in
But it never came and soon
Something done come over me
And when it touched my skin
The angels opened up their wings
And let me climb on in
Now its four in the morning
That bottle's been long gone
Waiting for the sun to come up
But I don't think I'll make the dawn
Something done come over me
And when it touched my skin
The angels opened up their wings
And let me climb on in
The Ugly Americans’ song "Piece of Heaven" is a ballad that speaks about the fleeting moments of happiness that we often experience in life. The song starts at nine o'clock in Memphis where the singer is found alone with a bottle of booze on his side. He decides to take a little sip and maybe go out on a ride. But something changed within him as soon as the alcohol coursed through his veins. He describes an unknown force that came over him that made him feel alive. The moon shone so bright, and it was as if the entire universe was filled with love - a little piece of heaven on earth. The following verse talks about the month of June, where the wheatfields were bathed in moonlight. He was waiting for his ship to roll in, but it never came, and as a result, he felt dejected. Again, something strikes him, and he describes the same force that took over him before, making him believe that he had found a little piece of heaven.
The song's chorus is repeated twice, stating that he feels a little piece of heaven right here on earth. Finally, the song ends with the singer still waiting until four in the morning when his bottle of booze finishes. He decides to wait for the sun to come up, but he doubts he'll be able to make it until dawn. Once again, he gives a description of the feeling of the force and the angels that open up their wings and allow him to climb in. The lyrics may refer to the peace and joy one feels while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The piece of heaven feeling will eventually vanish, and one would have to go back to the mundane happenings of life. The song serves as a reminder that true happiness, without the need for any external substances, should be found in the simple things in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it was nine o'clock in Memphis
The singer sets the scene of time and place
There's a bottle by my side
The singer has alcohol with him
Thought I'd take a little nip
The singer drinks some alcohol
And maybe go out for a ride
The singer considers going for a ride
Something done come over me
The singer experiences a sudden change in mood
And when it touched my skin
The singer feels the effects of the alcohol
The angels opened up their wings
The singer feels like he is being elevated to a higher plane of existence
And let me climb on in
The singer feels like he is entering a new realm
A little piece of heaven
The singer experiences a slice of euphoria
Right here on earth
The singer still inhabits the physical realm
And the moon shone bright
The singer is in a certain state of mind
And I felt so alive
The singer feels invigorated
And the world was filled with love
The singer feels a sense of benevolence towards everything
Like a piece of heaven
The singer feels like he is in heaven
Well now the wheatfields bathed in moonlight
The scene changes to a different place and time
Round the month of June
The setting is in summertime
Waiting for my ship to roll in
The singer anticipates something significant happening
But it never came and soon
The significant event never materializes
Now its four in the morning
The time shifts to a later hour
That bottle's been long gone
The singer has finished the alcohol
Waiting for the sun to come up
The singer waits for a new day to begin
But I don't think I'll make the dawn
The singer is unsure if he will live to see another day
Something done come over me
The singer experiences another mood swing
And when it touched my skin
The singer feels the emotional effects of his state
The angels opened up their wings
The singer feels that he is lifted up again
And let me climb on in
The singer feels like he is being guided to a certain direction
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BOB SCHNEIDER, DAVE ROBINSON, MAX EVANS, SEAN MCCARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind