Their first album, 1982's Kissing to Be Clever, became a major international hit, spawning the hit singles "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (which went 'all the way' in the BBC-Charts in late 1982), "Time (Clock of the Heart)", and "I'll Tumble 4 Ya". Unique in his eccentric manner of dress and androgynous look, Boy George became a worldwide celebrity.
Their second album, 1983's Colour By Numbers also did extremely well, giving the band its second number one hit in the UK with "Karma Chameleon." Karma Chameleon reached No.1 in many countries and they even starred in UK's Top of the Pops in September 1983. However, trouble was brewing within the Culture Club camp. Unknown to the public, George was having an affair with drummer Jon Moss. The affair (which lasted over four years) was often problematic and the pressure to hide the relationship started to take its toll.
The band also started to lose its place musically. Their next album, 1984's Waking Up With the House on Fire was a major disappointment. Though the band gained a small comeback with 1986's From Luxury to Heartache (thanks to the hit "Move Away"), both George's and Jon's fights created much tension, eventually leading to the breakup of the band. Around this time, George also became addicted to heroin, which created a frenzy with the tabloids. Eventually, George would let go of the habit and begin his solo career. A minor hit from the "Hiding Out" soundtrack called "Live My Life" peaked at U.S. #40. While George scored several hits in Europe and finally hit the U.S. top 20 with 1992's "The Crying Game", he was never able to reach the success he achieved with Culture Club.
In 1998, the band put their problems aside and decided to do a reunion tour. Kicked off with a performance on VH1 Storytellers, the tour was a major success. Shortly after, Culture Club recorded a new album titled Don't Mind If I Do. Though never released in the U.S., the first single, "I Just Wanna Be Loved" (UK #4), was featured on a compilation based around the Storytellers performance.
The band went on to tour for a few more years. Recently, however, Culture Club has been inactive, largely due to Boy George's concentration on his successful career as a DJ. In late 2006, Culture Club announced a reunion - albeit, without Boy George as lead singer.
Mystery Boy
Culture Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh mystery boy
It's too sad to point the finger
I told the boy to look at me
But what you say it never lingers
It's not what you say, but what you see
I couldn't look no better see
Ooh mystery boy
Ooh mystery boy
It's too sad that love would sting you
You told the girl that it would be
A kind of love that's deep within you
A boy's a boy, but did they say he'd be
For eternity?
Or just a mystery
Ooh mystery boy
Ooh mystery boy
Ooh mystery boy
Ooh mystery boy
Mystery boy
Ooh
Ooh
Mystery mystery mystery boy
It's too sad to point the finger
I told the boy to look at me
It's too sad that love might sting you
You told the girl that it would be
Some kind of love that's deep within you
Some dream that's hard to see
Mystery boy
The lyrics to Culture Club's song Mystery Boy convey a sense of confusion and ambiguity surrounding relationships, love, and identity. The repetition of the phrase "Mystery boy" throughout the song implies that the subject of the lyrics is a figure of intrigue and bewilderment to the singer. The lyrics suggest that the boy in question may be elusive, difficult to understand, or lack a clear sense of self.
In the first verse, the singer references a conversation with the mystery boy in which she implores him to "look at me," indicating a desire for deeper connection and understanding between the two. However, the lyrics suggest that the boy's words may be superficial or insincere: "But what you say it never lingers / It's not what you say, but what you see." The second verse is addressed to the mystery boy's romantic partner, and implies that he may have made unrealistic promises or offered an overly idealistic vision of love. The lyrics suggest that even the singer is uncertain about the boy's true intentions and character: "A boy's a boy, but did they say he'd be / For eternity? / Or just a mystery."
Overall, the lyrics to Mystery Boy are open to interpretation and leave the listener with a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. The repeated phrase "Mystery boy" serves as a refrain, underscoring the sense of enigma and intrigue that the song explores.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh mystery boy
Introducing the theme and character of the song - an enigmatic boy
Ooh mystery boy
Repeating the introduction for emphasis
It?s too sad to point the finger
Blaming others for problems is a sad thing to do
I told the boy to look at me
I offered a helping hand to the boy in need
But what you say it never lingers
Words are fleeting and have little impact on people
It?s not what you say, but what you see
Actions speak louder than words, and appearances can be deceiving
Boy look at me
A plea for the boy to pay attention
I couldn?t look no better see
I am presenting my true self to be seen and known
It?s too sad that love would sting you
Love can be painful and hard to bear
You told the girl that it would be
The boy made promises to the girl about love
A kind of love that?s deep within you
He claimed his love to be genuine and profound
A boy?s a boy, but did they say he?d be
The boy's true nature and intentions are unknown
For eternity?
Would his love last forever?
Or just a mystery
Perhaps his love is just a mystery, and nothing more
Mystery boy
Reiterating the central theme and character of the song
Ooh
An interjection to add emphasis and emotion
Ooh
Repeating the interjection for emphasis
Mystery mystery mystery boy
Emphasizing the mysterious nature of the boy with repetition
Some kind of love that?s deep within you
Repeating a previous line for emphasis and clarity
Some dream that?s hard to see
Perhaps the boy's love is just a fantasy or illusion
Mystery boy
The central idea of the song is reinforced once more
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL CRAIG, ROY HAY, JON MOSS, GEORGE O'DOWD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind