Let The Mystery Be - Iris DeMent, 1992

 
 

Everybody is wonderin' what and where they all came from
Everybody is worryin' 'bout where they're gonna go
When the whole thing's done
But no one knows for certain
And so it's all the same to me
I think I'll just let the mystery be

Some say once gone you're gone forever
And some say you're gonna come back
Some say you rest in the arms of The Savior
If in sinful ways you lack
Some say that they're comin' back in a garden
Bunch of carrots and little sweet peas
I think I'll just let the mystery be

Everybody is wonderin' what and where they all came from
Everybody is worryin' 'bout where they're gonna go
When the whole thing's done
But no one knows for certain
And so it's all the same to me
I think I'll just let the mystery be

Some say they're goin' to a place called Glory
And I ain't sayin' it ain't a fact
But I've heard that I'm on the road to purgatory
And I don't like the sound of that
I believe in love and I live my life accordingly
But I choose to let the mystery be

Everybody is wonderin' what and where they all came from
Everybody is worryin' 'bout where they're gonna go
When the whole thing's done
But no one knows for certain
And so it's all the same to me
I think I'll just let the mystery be

I think I'll just let the mystery be

 
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Iris DeMent was born in Arkansas, but grew up in Cypress, California. She listened to Country and Gospel music, which would influence her musical style in later years. Themes like religious skepticism eventually lead to political activism. Her 1996 album The Way I Should, covered topics such as sexual abuse, religion and government policy. Reading the lyrics from the song Wasteland of the Free will give you an idea of her disenchantment with the state of US society.

Her debut album was named Infamous Angel, and contained the song Let The Mystery Be. Neither one made the charts, but the song gained notoriety in later years - it was covered by Natalie Merchant and 10,000 Maniacs.

Iris also sang duets with artists John Prine, Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris (who also sang backup on Infamous Angel). One minor claim to fame was having her song Our Town played in the closing moments of the last episode of Northern Exposure. I used to look forward to the closing number on that show, since it always seemed to fit so perfectly.