The band originated with vocalist Stephen Holt (vocals) and guitarist Graham Lambert. Another uncredited founding member, was basist Glenn Chesworth. His partnership with the band lasted only a couple of years. The band emerged alongside The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays from the indie scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Bassist, Martyn Walsh, and drummer, Craig Gill, joined in 1984. Playing garage rock, they were joined by keyboardist, Clint Boon, who changed their sound based around harmonic (and often psychedelic) keyboards and jangly guitars.
After a couple of singles on a local indie label, Holt left the group and was replaced by Tom Hingley. The band were propelled to fame after being 'discovered' by the Radio 1 DJ John Peel and had their greatest chart success in the UK with a single entitled This is How it Feels, which is a song about loneliness and unemployment.
At the time of their initial success, the band earned some notoriety for their squiggly-eyed cow 'Cool as Fuck' T-shirts; a student at Oxford Polytechnic was prosecuted on obscenity charges for wearing one. One of their roadies, Noel Gallagher, went on to great success with the band Oasis. The band is named after an Inspiral Carpets tour poster which included the venue Swindon Oasis.
They reworked their single Find Out Why as the theme tune to early 90's kids TV show 'The 8:15 From Manchester'. Another release I Want You was used by Sony to advertise their in-car entertainment systems on this advert ; an early example of advertising agencies co-opting and promoting non-mainstream music to add kudos to mainstream brands (a trend that has increased significantly).
After the release of their 4th studio album, Devil Hopping, they started to record new, more darker-sounding demos in 1995 which their label, Mute Records rejected. An amicable split followed but they re-formed in 2003 for a tour and new compilation. For the next several years, they played gigs on and off, until Hingley could no longer give his 100% commitment so original vocalist, Stephen Holt, rejoined in March 2011.
Mystery
Inspiral Carpets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing in the doorway, the light catches on her face
The kaleidoscope spins, there's another one to take her place
She's a mystery, such a mystery
How ever much you change her, you'll never rearrange her
She's a mystery, such a mystery
The way she looks, she must be mad, she's the one you can't control
With a fire burning underneath, she's dancing to your own heartbeat
She's a mystery, such a mystery
How ever much you hold her, you will not ever own her
She's a mystery, such a mystery
She's the one you want to possess, caress, confess and undress
And as she kissed a stranger, your soul will fill with danger
It's just the realization that you won't ever hold her
She's a mystery, such a mystery
How ever much you change her, you'll never rearrange her
She's a mystery, such a mystery
How ever much you hold her, you won't ever ever own her
She's a mystery, such a mystery
The Inspiral Carpets' song "Mystery" is a hauntingly beautiful piece that delves into the complexities of desire, power, and control. The opening lines are particularly striking: "Watching her fall is fun, she's the girl in the torn red dress." Immediately, we are presented with a voyeuristic perspective, as if the singer is enjoying watching this woman suffer. The following lines further suggest her vulnerability; she is standing in the doorway with light highlighting her face while a kaleidoscope spins and others are ready to replace her. She is a mystery that cannot be manipulated, changed or owned. The lyrics touch on the idea of the male gaze and the power dynamics between men and women, presenting a strong and untouchable protagonist amidst the chaos of desire and possession.
The second verse deepens the mystery and complexity of the woman, as she is described as someone who cannot be controlled, and her danger lies in her eyes while she kisses anyone she pleases. The line, "With a fire burning underneath, she's dancing to your own heartbeat", is particularly evocative and suggests that the woman is not a passive object of desire but rather a fully-formed individual who is confidently living life on her terms. The final verse has a somber, almost tragic tone as it highlights the impossibility of possessing this woman, and the realization that her mystery will never be fully revealed, she will always remain untouchable.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching her fall is fun, she's the girl in the torn red dress
It's entertaining to see her fail, she's the vulnerable girl in distress
Standing in the doorway, the light catches on her face
She's attracting attention, standing there with the spotlight on her face
The kaleidoscope spins, there's another one to take her place
People come and go, there's always someone else to replace her
She's a mystery, such a mystery
She's very enigmatic and hard to understand
How ever much you change her, you'll never rearrange her
No matter how hard you try to alter her, her true self remains unchanged
The way she looks, she must be mad, she's the one you can't control
Her appearance suggests she's unpredictable and uncontrollable
With danger in those eyes, she's kissing everyone in sight
She's taking risks and acting recklessly by kissing anyone she sees
With a fire burning underneath, she's dancing to your own heartbeat
She's passionate and in tune with her own desires, living life to the fullest
How ever much you hold her, you will not ever own her
Regardless of how much possession you have over her, she will never belong to you
She's the one you want to possess, caress, confess and undress
You desire her physically and emotionally, wanting to have her all to yourself
And as she kissed a stranger, your soul will fill with danger
Watching her kiss someone else increases your fear and insecurity
It's just the realization that you won't ever hold her
Accepting the fact that she will never truly belong to you
She's a mystery, such a mystery
Reiterating that she's very enigmatic and hard to understand
How ever much you change her, you'll never rearrange her
Reiterating that her true self is immutable
How ever much you hold her, you won't ever ever own her
Regardless of how much possession you have over her, she will never truly belong to you
She's a mystery, such a mystery
Final repetition that she's very enigmatic and hard to understand
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Mute Song Limited
Written by: CLINTON DAVID BOON, CRAIG DOUGLAS GILL, GRAHAM PAUL LAMBERT, MARTYN JOHN WALSH, THOMAS WILLIAM HINGLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind