Mystery Of Life
Eels; Mark Oliver Everett Lyrics
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How does a cat land on his feet?
Why does it feel like you've been here before?
How do the two perfect people meet?
Pain in my heart, twistin' like a knife
Disappeared just overnight
Good morning, mystery of life
La la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la
How does a mother wake up in the night
When she knows her daughter's sad
On the other side of the earth?
How does she know the kind of day she's had?
Ghosts flyin' all around my life
Sent a message both bold and bright
Good morning, mystery of life
La la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la
How does a man lose all that he loves
And find the strength to rise above
Havin' nothing to call his own?
How does he find that he still has love?
No more sorrow, no more strife
Always some daylight followin' the night
Good morning, mystery of life
La la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la la
In "Mystery Of Life," Mark Oliver Everett (aka Eels) ponders the many unknowns and inexplicable aspects of existence. In the first verse, he questions the innate abilities of beings, asking how a baby knows how to smile or how a cat can always land on its feet. This leads into a more existential question about the happenstance of life and love: how do two perfect people happen to meet? The pain in his heart is palpable, but it disappears overnight and he greets the mysteries of life with a cheerful "good morning."
The second verse focuses on a mother's intuition and the way in which we are all connected across the globe. Everett considers how a mother can sense her daughter's sadness even though they are on opposite sides of the world, and how people in general are influenced by the spirits that inhabit their surroundings. In the final verse, he speaks to the resilience and capacity for love that enables people to rise above their struggles and hardships. Despite the darkness, there is always a glimmer of light on the other side, which he greets once again with a "good morning."
Through its poignant and reflective lyrics, "Mystery Of Life" reminds us to embrace the unknown aspects of our lives with curiosity and wonder, rather than fear or resentment.
Line by Line Meaning
How does a little baby know how to smile?
Wondering how a baby can naturally smile without having learned it
How does a cat land on his feet?
Pondering how cats have the ability to always land upright when they fall
Why does it feel like you've been here before?
Questioning the phenomenon of déjà vu
How do the two perfect people meet?
Curious about how two people can have such a perfect connection and meet in the first place
Pain in my heart, twistin' like a knife
Experiencing emotional pain that is intense and agonizing
Disappeared just overnight
Suddenly the pain has gone without any explanation
Good morning, mystery of life
Welcoming the unknown and mysterious aspects of life with a positive attitude
How does a mother wake up in the night
Asking how a mother can know when her child is sad even from a distance
When she knows her daughter's sad
Feeling the pain of a loved one, even when they are far away
On the other side of the earth?
Highlighting the vastness and distance of the world
How does she know the kind of day she's had?
Wondering how a mother can have an innate sense of a child's well-being and emotions
Ghosts flyin' all around my life
Feeling burdened by past experiences and memories that linger like ghosts
Sent a message both bold and bright
Having received a clear and powerful message, possibly from the universe or from within oneself
How does a man lose all that he loves
Reflecting on the challenge of experiencing great loss
And find the strength to rise above
Wondering how someone can muster the courage and resilience to move forward after tragedy
Havin' nothing to call his own?
Feeling the weight of emptiness and isolation that can come with loss
How does he find that he still has love?
Questioning how one can still find love and positivity within themselves after having experienced such loss
No more sorrow, no more strife
Describing a state of liberation from pain and hardship
Always some daylight followin' the night
Recognizing the cyclical nature of life, with difficult times eventually giving way to better ones
La la la la
A simple refrain without specific meaning, possibly a way to express feelings that are hard to articulate in words
La la la la la
Continuing the refrain without specific meaning
La la la la la la
Continuing the refrain without specific meaning
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK O. EVERETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind