He grew up in Glasgow and attended Shawlands Academy. John Martyn moved to London from Glasgow in the mid 1960s. He made his initial recorded impact in 1967, at the age of 19, with his debut album London Conversation. He then quickly became an integral part of the British music scene, incorporating Folk, Blues, and Jazz into his unique sound.
In the late 60s to early 70s he was close friends with Nick Drake, for whom he wrote the song Solid Air. The album of the same name remains an extremely moving album, as does the later Grace and Danger which documents his divorce from his wife Beverley with whom he recorded several albums (as John & Beverley Martyn).
During the 70s John lived in Hastings on the South Coast of England. Whilst in Hastings he released, amongst others, the Live At Leeds album which he sold from his own house. Also during his time in Hastings John tried to help Paul Kossoff put his life back together.
A long held alcohol problem didn't prevent Martyn from releasing twenty-two albums. In 2003 he contracted an infection that resulted in the amputation of part of a leg, an episode documented in the 2004 BBC documentary "Johnny Too Bad". He recovered, however, and continued to play, record and tour. In 2008, he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Folk Awards. He has influenced many songwriters and guitarists and is an artist whose stature only grows with time. He worked with artists such as Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, David Gilmour and Levon Helm.
Sadly, he passed away on 29th January 2009.
A tribute album entitled Johnny Boy Would Love this…a Tribute to John Martyn was released on 15 August 2011, comprising cover versions of his songs by various artists who he had worked with or influenced.
Sweet Little Mystery
John Martyn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just that sweet little mystery makes me cry
O that sweet little mystery that's in your heart
It's just that sweet little mystery that makes me try.
My friends all tell me that I look so sad
They don't need to ask me why
They know the reason that I feel so bad
It's not the letters that you just don't write
It's not the arms of some new friend
It's not the crying in the dead of the night
That keeps me hanging on, waiting for the end.
Just that sweet little mystery that's in your heart
Just that sweet little mystery makes me cry
Oh that sweet little mystery that's in your heart
It's just that sweet little mystery that makes me try.
I watch the street, I watch the radio
I don't need to turn it on
Another friend comes by and tries to say hello
Another weekend's almost gone
It's not the letters that you just don't write
It's not the arms of some new friend
It's not the crying in the depth of the night
That keeps me hanging on, just waiting for the end.
It's that sweet little mystery that's in your heart
It's just that sweet little mystery that makes me cry
Oh that sweet little mystery that's in your heart
It's just that sweet little mystery that makes me try.
The time is flying fast, and I don't care
To spend another night alone
I want to see you, but I don't know where
Till then I'm walking on my own
It's not the letters that you just don't write
It's not the arms of some new friend
It's not the crying in the depth of the night
That keeps me hanging on, just waiting for the end.
It's that sweet little mystery that's in your heart
It's just that sweet little mystery that makes me cry
Oh that sweet little mystery that's in your heart
It's just that sweet little mystery that makes me try.
That sweet little mystery that's in your heart
It's just that sweet little mystery that makes me cry
Oh that sweet little mystery that's in your heart
It's just that sweet little mystery that makes me try.
Sweet mystery, sweet mystery
Sweet mystery, sweet mystery, sweet mystery
Sweet mystery, sweet mystery, sweet mystery
Sweet mystery, sweet mystery, sweet mystery.
In John Martyn's song "Sweet Little Mystery," the lyrics revolve around the theme of heartbreak and the uncertainty of trying to figure out what went wrong in a relationship. The chorus, "Just that sweet little mystery that's in your heart, it's just that sweet little mystery that makes me cry," refers to the confusion and bewilderment that the singer feels about not being able to understand why their partner left them. Moreover, the lyrics talk about the singer's struggle to move on, despite the fact that he is not receiving any communication from his former lover. They do not feel that they are healing and are still waiting for answers, and the mysteriousness around the situation makes it even harder for them.
Martyn's melancholy tone in the song conveys a sense of sadness and lost hope. The lyrics also mention the singer's friends and their attempts to comfort him, and the singer's attempts to find out where his ex-partner is. Ultimately, though, the song leaves the listeners with a tragic ending as Martyn sings, "Till then, I’m walking on my own."
Overall, the song is a beautiful example of John Martyn's songwriting style, as it speaks to the universal experiences of love and loss that listeners can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Just that sweet little mystery that breaks my heart
The mysterious reason behind the love of my life abandoning me is heartbreaking.
Just that sweet little mystery makes me cry
The unanswered questions about why my lover left me are causing me emotional distress.
O that sweet little mystery that's in your heart
The unknown feelings inside my lover's heart are the source of the mystery that's causing me pain.
It's just that sweet little mystery that makes me try.
My effort to discover the reason behind my lover's departure is driven by the unsolved mystery.
My friends all tell me that I look so sad
My sadness is apparent to my close friends, without requiring an explanation.
They don't need to ask me why
My friends don't need to ask why I'm sad because it's so obvious.
They know the reason that I feel so bad
My friends understand that my emotional pain stems from my lover leaving me.
Since the night you said goodbye
My misery started the night of the breakup, and I've been trying to reconcile with my lover ever since.
It's not the letters that you just don't write
Although my lover is not communicating with me, I'm not upset about the lack of letters they send.
It's not the arms of some new friend
The possibility of my lover finding consolation from someone else's embrace is not the issue that's upsetting me.
It's not the crying in the dead of the night
Although I do cry at times, that's not the source of my sorrow.
That keeps me hanging on, waiting for the end.
Despite my sadness, I persist in the hope that someday my lover will return to me.
I watch the street, I watch the radio
I'm constantly on the lookout for news of my lover's whereabouts, even on the radio.
I don't need to turn it on
I don't even need to turn the radio on because I'm always listening for any mention of my lover.
Another friend comes by and tries to say hello
Even when friends and acquaintances greet me, my mind remains preoccupied with thoughts of my lover.
Another weekend's almost gone
Another weekend without my lover has passed, and I'm still struggling with heartache.
The time is flying fast, and I don't care
Time is moving quickly, but I'm not interested in anything besides finding out why my lover left.
To spend another night alone
Being alone is a constant reminder that my lover is no longer with me, and it's depressing.
I want to see you, but I don't know where
I'm desperate to reconnect with my lover, but I don't have a clue how to find them.
Till then I'm walking on my own
In the meantime, I'm wandering through life feeling lost and abandoned without my lover.
Sweet mystery, sweet mystery
The unresolved mystery of why my lover left me is both alluring and agonizing.
Sweet mystery, sweet mystery, sweet mystery
The mystery is both sweet and painful, yet I'm unable to let it go.
Sweet mystery, sweet mystery, sweet mystery
I'm consumed by the sweet mystery of my lover's departure, and it's not letting me move on.
Sweet mystery, sweet mystery.
The sweet mystery of why my lover left me is a perpetual source of confusion and pain.
Contributed by Ian D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.