In the late 1980s, Roy Orbison experienced a career resurgence with a string of solo hits, further cemented by his unforgettable contribution to the supergroup, The Traveling Wilburys. One such stand – out single is today’s featured track She’s a Mystery to Me. It was written by Bono from U2 and the backstory as described below about it coming to fruition is fascinating. She’s a Mystery to Me was released on Orbison’s final (posthumous) album, Mystery Girl (also inspiring the album title), and as the album’s second single in March 1989. What always stood out for me apart from his consummate voice here is the mesmerising guitar work.
Composition (from the Wikipedia article below):
During a restless night of sleep in June 1987 in London during U2’s Joshua Tree Tour, Bono slept with the soundtrack to the film Blue Velvet CD on repeat. The CD had been given to him by the Edge’s wife. The soundtrack includes the song “In Dreams” by Orbison. When he woke the following morning, Bono had a tune in his head which he assumed was from the soundtrack. He soon realised it wasn’t, so he wrote down the basic structure of the song. Later that day he sang the unfinished song to the band at their pre-concert soundcheck at Wembley Arena. After the concert, Orbison paid the band an unannounced visit backstage, where a perplexed Bono played the song for him. Bono and Orbison worked again on the song in mid-November in Los Angeles. The album Mystery Girl was named after the song’s chorus (“She’s a mystery to me, she’s a mystery girl…”)
Critical reception towards the song was overwhelmingly positive. It peaked at No 26 on the US Billboard charts and No 17 in Australia. She’s a Mystery to Me came later in Roy’s career and so close to his unexpected passing will forever be etched into our memories as avid music – goers.
[Verse 1]
Darkness falls and she
Will take me by the hand
Take me to some twilight land
Where all but love is grey
Where I can’t find my way
Without her as my guide
[Bridge 1]
Night falls, I’m cast beneath her spell
Daylight comes, our heaven turns to hell
Am I left to burn
And burn eternally?
She’s a mystery to me
[Chorus]
She’s a mystery girl
She’s a mystery girl
[Verse 2]
In the night of love
Words tangled in her hair
Words soon to disappear
A love so sharp it cut
Like a switchblade to my heart
Words tearing me apart
[Bridge 2]
She tears again my bleeding heart
I wanna run, she’s pulling me apart
Fallen angel cries
And I just melt away
She’s a mystery to me
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Haunted by her side
It’s the darkness in her eyes
That so enslaves me
But if my love is blind
Then I don’t want to see
She’s a mystery to me
References:
1. She’s a Mystery to Me – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I always liked this song more than the huge hit You Got It… I love the incredibly high voice he does in this song.
I like that one a lot too.
This song is so atmospheric to my senses. Funny how Bono got it from falling asleep to Blue Velvet, then Orbison’s unannounced visit backstage. It was meant to be I guess.
Yea he wrote a great one for him…you can tell he wrote it as well…
I didn’t recall “She’s a Mystery to Me,” but, gosh, Roy Orbison just had such a beautiful voice. How can you not love this song?