Story Behind The Song

I wrote this song in 1995, during that nervous yet exciting time of falling in love. At that time, I had been dating my now-wife for almost two years. When I wrote the song, I looked back on our first two months together, and remembered how incredibly intoxicated I felt. Inspired by Curtis Mayfield, how always had the most delicate and sincere touch, I wanted to express my feelings in a similar style. Although conventional, or perhaps because of that, "You Must Be Heaven" is the favorite of my songs of my friends and family.

Song Description

Featuring George Porter Jr., the legendary bassist of The Meters of New Orleans, and Julia Nixon, a DC-area soul diva, "You Must Be Heaven" is a soul-pop love song. It features a funky beat, a vulnerable falsetto, and horns. OffBeat, Louisiana's largest music magazine, writes, "It also helps to come with a truckload of personal blue-eyed soul, and [Sugar] Jones puts those cards on the table most effectively in 'You Must Be Heaven,' which manages to embody the sort of silky ?70s R&B that more famous practitioners like Lenny Kravitz can only sporadically get real with."

Lyrics

Sunday morning,
an angel greets me with a smile
Each day, an earthly kingdom,
and all the while
I'm wondering why I was chosen,
trying hard to stay a humble man
I haven't left my slumber,
just felt the touch of your hand

That's why I'm telling you,
you must be heaven
All I know is,
you must be heaven
Without a question,
you must be heaven
Pretty angel,
heaven is all I need

I'm living life like each day
is the path to some great future
Knowing every step I take
leads me closer to you
But, baby, can't you understand
that a man isn't perfect?
I'm going to do the best I can
to try and please you

That's why I'm telling you,
you must be heaven
All I know is,
you must be heaven
Without a question,
you must be heaven
Pretty angel,
heaven is all I need