This is the first song I wrote that I actually remember, and it was the first I wrote with Matt Corbin. We were camping in Wasilla, Alaska when he started playing the tune, and I just started writing about things that leave me perplexed in life, women being the main one.
Here is the poem I use to introduce the song…
I’ve seen a lot of things in the world that have boggled my mind,
everything from the edges of space
to the true constraints of time.
But nothing I have seen
has brought me such damn consternation
as what it is that makes women tick
and draw so much adoration.
They’re the fairer of our species
and we’ve kept them from having control
over everything we do and say and how often we roll.
I’m not quite sure how we’ve made it this far
keepin’ them from makin’ decisions,
but it probably has something to do
with why we’re goin’ broke and runnin’ out of provisions.
Though I may never understand
what the mystery’s all about,
I feel that my time is the most well spent
when I’m tryin’ to figure it out.
And here’s the actual song…
Angels and devils and boxes of sand
blankets of snow and the Marathon Man
white hooded klansmen on a cold southern night
these are a few of the mysteries of life.
There’s good and there’s evil
indifferent are some
mile-high waters and a red midnight sun
upside-down kingdoms and a homecoming queen
these are a few of the mysteries I’ve seen.
CHORUS
So many things come into my view
none of them so enigmatic as you.
I see the world
through rose-colored glasses
you see the world as shiny and new.
What could you see
in a poor, country minstrel?
This is just part of the mystery of you.
The French Foreign Legion and mother of pearl
three lovely daughters, the youngest in curls
The National Enquirer just covers the flaws
these are a few of the mysteries I saw.
There’s a boy and a gun and a red traffic light
miles of pavement, no parking in sight
a lovely young lady just gives it away
these are a few of the mysteries today.
CHORUS
Does strawberry gold dust cover your head?
Do you think of me when you lie in your bed?
Do you embrace the morning with your lips wet with dew?
This is just part of the mystery of you
CHORUS
And this is my performance of “Mystery” at Common Grounds Meeting Hall in Northport, Florida where I screw up the lyrics in the first line. Fortunately, most of the other lyrics were sung correctly.
