Rickie Lee Jones — Little Mysteries
Album: The Evening Of My Best DayAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 1407
Length: 4:51
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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a gypsy boy came up to you
with a newspaper spread across his arm
to hid his fingers in your pocket...
meanwhile, in another part of town
i buy a ticket for a game
and la petite femme, smoking les gitanes
is writing down my name
oh, little mysteries, little mysteries
yeah, little mysteries, little mysteries
a plane goes down in kc, mo
in a simple twist of fate
a trail of lies leads us to orlando
but we are days too late
for a certain brother down in florida
famous for his cake
and when the boys came over from texas
they said "we'll take everything we can take..."
oh, little mysteries, little mysteries
yeah, little mystereis, little mysteries
nobody wants to know
nobody wants to see
now four years later
another senator hits the ground
this time the boys make sure
that his wife is with him when he goes down
and while everybody's looking up
in a race too close to call
t he election quietly slips into
the third door down the hall.
oh, little mysteries, little mysteries.
yeah, little mysteries, little mystereies
could be next to you.
someone you've known for years
a car parked down by the airport
at the edge of town.....
with a newspaper spread across his arm
to hid his fingers in your pocket...
meanwhile, in another part of town
i buy a ticket for a game
and la petite femme, smoking les gitanes
is writing down my name
oh, little mysteries, little mysteries
yeah, little mysteries, little mysteries
a plane goes down in kc, mo
in a simple twist of fate
a trail of lies leads us to orlando
but we are days too late
for a certain brother down in florida
famous for his cake
and when the boys came over from texas
they said "we'll take everything we can take..."
oh, little mysteries, little mysteries
yeah, little mystereis, little mysteries
nobody wants to know
nobody wants to see
now four years later
another senator hits the ground
this time the boys make sure
that his wife is with him when he goes down
and while everybody's looking up
in a race too close to call
t he election quietly slips into
the third door down the hall.
oh, little mysteries, little mysteries.
yeah, little mysteries, little mystereies
could be next to you.
someone you've known for years
a car parked down by the airport
at the edge of town.....
Comments (73)add comment
This has an Al Green vibe: Love and Happiness
lily34 wrote:
actually, not true. i'm familiar with other songs she put out, also. but this one somehow escaped my attention.
i stand corrected lily sorry.
actually, not true. i'm familiar with other songs she put out, also. but this one somehow escaped my attention.
i stand corrected lily sorry.
Went to France spring 2024. Long flight from Canada to Paris France but no sense taking smokes to there. At Paris airport went into a big smoke shop and asked for Gitanes but was informed they don't carry them and if I wanted Marlboro. What's happened to that country, are they going to start charging tuition for university next?
DaidyBoy wrote:
I'm trying my best - a 9 from me.
Instant 8 from the Bristol office. Superb track. Thanks RP. Crank those ratings up, chaps.
I'm trying my best - a 9 from me.
another excellent song with a great guitar start
jp33442 wrote:
That’s because all you heard was chuckies in love by commercial radio and their SSDD.
actually, not true. i'm familiar with other songs she put out, also. but this one somehow escaped my attention.
That’s because all you heard was chuckies in love by commercial radio and their SSDD.
actually, not true. i'm familiar with other songs she put out, also. but this one somehow escaped my attention.
lily34 wrote:
That’s because all you heard was chuckies in love by commercial radio and their SSDD.
every time i hear this i like it better. i think it's the funky bass that draws me in.
i can't believe i missed this for so many years.
That’s because all you heard was chuckies in love by commercial radio and their SSDD.
pktinkler2984 wrote:
Agreed. The album is superb. I wiled away hours listening to it, poolside, in a fantastic hotel set in the hillside above Taormina. Dreamy days, and the music was perfect.
that sounds delightful. i'd love to have experienced that.
Agreed. The album is superb. I wiled away hours listening to it, poolside, in a fantastic hotel set in the hillside above Taormina. Dreamy days, and the music was perfect.
that sounds delightful. i'd love to have experienced that.
every time i hear this i like it better. i think it's the funky bass that draws me in.
i can't believe i missed this for so many years.
i can't believe i missed this for so many years.
Years ago I had her "Pop! Pop!" album on at our coffeehouse and one of the regulars finally piped up that he hated when I played it because she can't sing and the timing is all over the place. The guy was one of the busiest working musicians in the area, and I don't know how he ever got to that level if that's what he hears.
Has a nice groove and voice.
Lots of praise for Rickie. Well deserved I might add.
RabbitEars wrote:
Agreed. The album is superb. I wiled away hours listening to it, poolside, in a fantastic hotel set in the hillside above Taormina. Dreamy days, and the music was perfect.
Not just another fine track, but another fine album from Rickie Lee.
Agreed. The album is superb. I wiled away hours listening to it, poolside, in a fantastic hotel set in the hillside above Taormina. Dreamy days, and the music was perfect.
Not just another fine track, but another fine album from Rickie Lee.
I like it but is it just me or does she sound like she's holding her nose on this one?
Like almost all RLJ albums, this one is a keeper. Her 2015 album The Other Side of Desire is even better.
DaidyBoy wrote:
Tel Aviv concurs 8
Instant 8 from the Bristol office. Superb track. Thanks RP. Crank those ratings up, chaps.
Tel Aviv concurs 8
GoodKarm wrote:
yes, I love her first album I ever bought too. And now I wish I had this one. :) Thanx Bill
I love her GHOSTYHEAD album! Love Rickie! 123 
K
Kyes, I love her first album I ever bought too. And now I wish I had this one. :) Thanx Bill
I love her GHOSTYHEAD album! Love Rickie! 123 K
K cattail321 wrote:
I'm in agreement cattail. Just doesn't do much for me. I was about to post something along the lines of how she really burst onto the scene with such talent and artistry, only to fade away into mediocrity, but based on the positive comments that others have posted, I may be in the minority on that.
I'm in agreement cattail. Just doesn't do much for me. I was about to post something along the lines of how she really burst onto the scene with such talent and artistry, only to fade away into mediocrity, but based on the positive comments that others have posted, I may be in the minority on that.
Fade into the good Tanyas.
Rickie never fails to please the senses.
Instant 8 from the Bristol office. Superb track. Thanks RP. Crank those ratings up, chaps.
Cynaera wrote:
She writes a lot of autobiographical stuff - some of her most beautiful songs are rooted in tragedy. "Skeletons" was written for her friend Bird, who was shot and killed by police in a case of mistaken identity. I can't listen to her music without getting pulled into her life. I guess that's why she always gets a 10 from me.
well that seals it, this song is above good : )
She writes a lot of autobiographical stuff - some of her most beautiful songs are rooted in tragedy. "Skeletons" was written for her friend Bird, who was shot and killed by police in a case of mistaken identity. I can't listen to her music without getting pulled into her life. I guess that's why she always gets a 10 from me.
well that seals it, this song is above good : )
Sounds like War backing her up.
kayumann wrote:
yessir
Love the bass line pulsing through this tune !
yessir
wtf was that?
bam23 wrote:
Isn't it great when a freebie or take-a-chance-on-the-cheap purchase gives you something else to love and grok? That happened to me a number of times when um...someone I sorta knew ;-} "subscribed" to Columbia House Record Club. A bunch of the discs didn't appeal at all until I listened to them. Smashing Pumpkins' "Siamese Dreams" was one of them.
You're right, bam: sometimes it's hard to get past a particular song you didn't like or the endless hype about an artist. But when you do, and you dramatically change your opinion about an artist for the better, it's pretty cool.
Still like this RL Jones song, even though I am not watering my plants in this middle of the night.
I found this CD as part of a collection being given away in front of a house several years ago. My first effort to really listen to Rickie Lee Jones. It is very good, politically driven, and it was really my first time really listening to her music. If only we could somehow delete certain overplayed and really not very representative songs from the airwaves (as well as my memory banks), the world would be revealed as more interesting than it sometimes appears. I guess this means I like the CD.
Isn't it great when a freebie or take-a-chance-on-the-cheap purchase gives you something else to love and grok? That happened to me a number of times when um...someone I sorta knew ;-} "subscribed" to Columbia House Record Club. A bunch of the discs didn't appeal at all until I listened to them. Smashing Pumpkins' "Siamese Dreams" was one of them.
You're right, bam: sometimes it's hard to get past a particular song you didn't like or the endless hype about an artist. But when you do, and you dramatically change your opinion about an artist for the better, it's pretty cool.
Still like this RL Jones song, even though I am not watering my plants in this middle of the night.
I found this CD as part of a collection being given away in front of a house several years ago. My first effort to really listen to Rickie Lee Jones. It is very good, politically driven, and it was really my first time really listening to her music. If only we could somehow delete certain overplayed and really not very representative songs from the airwaves (as well as my memory banks), the world would be revealed as more interesting than it sometimes appears. I guess this means I like the CD.
Totally missed it first time through but liking it now
Nice!!!!! 
Love the bass line pulsing through this tune !
i wish it didn't sound this goodd
keyboard slip
keyboard slip
EleventhMan wrote:
She writes a lot of autobiographical stuff - some of her most beautiful songs are rooted in tragedy. "Skeletons" was written for her friend Bird, who was shot and killed by police in a case of mistaken identity. I can't listen to her music without getting pulled into her life. I guess that's why she always gets a 10 from me.
You're joking I hope...Chuck E is Chuck E. Weiss...good friend of Rickie's, best bud of Tom Waits...back in their hobo days hanging out at Ebbet's Field blues club in Denver...then on to the Tropicana Motel in L.A....of Janis Joplin/Jim Morrison fame... go here for good Chuck E bio: (click here)
She writes a lot of autobiographical stuff - some of her most beautiful songs are rooted in tragedy. "Skeletons" was written for her friend Bird, who was shot and killed by police in a case of mistaken identity. I can't listen to her music without getting pulled into her life. I guess that's why she always gets a 10 from me.
Mari wrote:
Thanx for bringin' this back up Bill! 
Love Rickie!
Love Rickie! kcar wrote:
Ha, so true. I really like this one too. Rickie is not very prolific but when she does release material it's usually pretty good.
Here I am, watering my plants in the middle of the night, and I gotta say: this is pretty good! I'm glad some DJ realizes that Rickie Lee actually wrote and performed more than one song...Thanks, Bill.
Ha, so true. I really like this one too. Rickie is not very prolific but when she does release material it's usually pretty good.
Here I am, watering my plants in the middle of the night, and I gotta say: this is pretty good! I'm glad some DJ realizes that Rickie Lee actually wrote and performed more than one song...Thanks, Bill.
Does anyone else hear "Boris the Spider" in the bass line here?
Gregorama wrote:
Thank you sir! 9 minimum.
Rickie Lee is awesome. Very few singers can be considered any cooler than she is.
The big deal is that she has a great voice, is a fantastic story teller, and that she is way hipper than the average person.
That, and the fact that her music is classic: it stands the test of time. Plus she has made jazz more palatable to a lot of folks as well.
The big deal is that she has a great voice, is a fantastic story teller, and that she is way hipper than the average person.
That, and the fact that her music is classic: it stands the test of time. Plus she has made jazz more palatable to a lot of folks as well.
Thank you sir! 9 minimum.
Nabla wrote:
Hey, wow, lucky you!
It's very pleasant to recognise that also Rebecca and Bill like a lot of those great tunes which clearly belong to my own CD collection since several years - and which I am still playing again, again and again... Please continue in this way! 
Hey, wow, lucky you!
It's very pleasant to recognise that also Rebecca and Bill like a lot of those great tunes which clearly belong to my own CD collection since several years - and which I am still playing again, again and again... Please continue in this way!
Good to hear Rickie Lee Jones again!
Thanx for bringin' this back up Bill! Love Rickie!
Love Rickie!She sounds great here. i saw her perform on the west side piers about 12 yrs ago and she was in bad shape, kind of like watching Hunter S. Thompson try and perform.
This is awesome.
rascal420 wrote:
Was "Chuck E" of "Chuck E's in Love" actually Chuck E Cheeze?
That's what I heard.
You're joking I hope...Chuck E is Chuck E. Weiss...good friend of Rickie's, best bud of Tom Waits...back in their hobo days hanging out at Ebbet's Field blues club in Denver...then on to the Tropicana Motel in L.A....of Janis Joplin/Jim Morrison fame...
go here for good Chuck E bio: (click here)
There are a few smooth voices that just draw you in when you hear them... Rickie Lee Jones is one. Thanks for playing.
Wow, I really enjoy the song, Rickie Lee Jones and I really enjoy this comment too, amazing..I will read more about it. I am ahappy camper
gandalfbmg wrote:
I think I figured it out... I think this is another anti-Bush administration song. Specifically, about Mel Carnahan and John Ashcroft. If you don't know the story, during the 2000 election, Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan was killed when his small airplane crashed. It was very close to the election, too close for a new Democratic candidate to be named. So, the Leutenant Governer (now Governor, since Carnhan was dead) said that if Carnahan won the election, he would appoint his wife Jean to his Senate seat until a new election could be held in 2 years. Well, Carnahan still beat Ashcroft in the election and Jean was appointed to the Senate in his place.
What made me think of this was the line about making sure the senator's wife is on board the next time the plane goes down.
And for my usual soap boxing - It's a bit scary that a man who lost an election to a dead man is now the attorney general. And, Jean Carnahan spoke at my college commencement, I was proud to have seen her.
randomprime wrote:
Odd, I always thought it was "Chuck D's in Love" and that RLJ was a closet Public
Enemy fan.
Uh yeah. In 1978? You guyz are either sarcastic as hell or really really dumb.
I'm a big fan of her earlier stuff, and this one didin't do much for me on first listen, but it's wearing better and better. Curious about the rest of the album now.
Daveinbawlmer wrote:
She always sounds like she has a wad of snot stuck in her nose 
I made essentially this same comment on another of her songs that gets played here. What's up with that? You just want to tell her to get that goo cleaned out of there so she can sound out the letters L and N properly again.
gandalfbmg wrote:
Did she something about a plane going down in KCMO? Is this based on a real event?
I think I figured it out... I think this is another anti-Bush administration song. Specifically, about Mel Carnahan and John Ashcroft. If you don't know the story, during the 2000 election, Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan was killed when his small airplane crashed. It was very close to the election, too close for a new Democratic candidate to be named. So, the Leutenant Governer (now Governor, since Carnhan was dead) said that if Carnahan won the election, he would appoint his wife Jean to his Senate seat until a new election could be held in 2 years. Well, Carnahan still beat Ashcroft in the election and Jean was appointed to the Senate in his place.
What made me think of this was the line about making sure the senator's wife is on board the next time the plane goes down.
And for my usual soap boxing - It's a bit scary that a man who lost an election to a dead man is now the attorney general. And, Jean Carnahan spoke at my college commencement, I was proud to have seen her.
I saw Rickie Lee in Cleveland a few months ago. Wasn't taken by the new stuff, but this song is definitely growing on me. Powerful, though restrained groove to it
rascal420 wrote:
Was "Chuck E" of "Chuck E's in Love" actually Chuck E Cheeze?
That's what I heard.
Odd, I always thought it was "Chuck D's in Love" and that RLJ was a closet Public
Enemy fan.
Was "Chuck E" of "Chuck E's in Love" actually Chuck E Cheeze?
That's what I heard.
Rickie Lee is awesome. Very few singers can be considered any cooler than she is.
The big deal is that she has a great voice, is a fantastic story teller, and that she is way hipper than the average person.
That, and the fact that her music is classic: it stands the test of time. Plus she has made jazz more palatable to a lot of folks as well.
Jimi_Zep wrote:
She's like an even more annoying version of Macy Gray
This is NOT my kind of music either....so why am I diggin' it so much?
ooohhh, nice one, Bill. Nice subtle linkage, following up Tom with Rickie Lee. Takes us right back to LA, circa mid70s.
Does this remind anybody of War's "The World Is a Ghetto"? It sounds like them playing too. I'll have to check...
(later)...Well, I did find one guy in common - the mastering guy. Oh, well. No jackpot this time.
Rickie Lee after Tom Waits.... smooth, Mr. G!
holborne wrote:
I don't get all the acclaim Rickie Lee Jones receives. Can someone explain it?
Her first two albums are consistently excellent. The first one has a great groove and sound, while the second is a kind of hippie tour de force. I've listened to both of them from start to finish more times than I can count. I think she's still riding on that buzz 25 years later.
Did she something about a plane going down in KCMO? Is this based on a real event?
Three chezzy songs in a row. Please, mix it up Bill!
dolfan wrote:
And if you like Steely Dan the music on the new album will appeal to you.
Probably not an accident, as Rickie has stated that SD was a significant influence on her. She has had her shares of misfires over the years(including her awful cover of SD's "Show Biz Kids"), and she is an acquired taste, but I have always been a fan. That tune, "Danny's All Star Joint," from her debut album, hooked me.
She always sounds like she has a wad of snot stuck in her nose
She's like an even more annoying version of Macy Gray 
apd wrote:
..and yet you say that like it's a bad thing...
The show was pretty funny back in the '70s. The theme sounds pretty, well, dated and silly now. Which actually gives Rickie less harsh of a review than I had intended.
Mot wrote:
Rickie's music sounds like something out of the theme song from Barney Miller.
..and yet you say that like it's a bad thing...
I find I really don't care for her, either, and I am also baffled by all the acclaim. My wife loves her, too. To prove my love for my wife I bought her the new RLJ album. With all that being said, her most recent album isn't that awful. And if you like Steely Dan the music on the new album will appeal to you.
yayyyy!
holborne wrote:
I don't get all the acclaim Rickie Lee Jones receives. Can someone explain it?
Not from this song, I can't. :? She seems to be getting more and more arcane as years go by. She's got this great be-bop blood pulsing in her veins, :D/ and an ear for an effective turn of phrase. You really have to listen closely to her, though - she sometimes slurs her words, whispers them, talks behind her hand to an unseen friend, or shouts to a room full of people. In the same song.
I love "Night Train" and "Must Be Love," but there are so many exceptional songs by her that it's impossible to name all of them. I admit, she wasn't my cup of tea the first few times I heard "Chuck E.'s in Love" but then I just closed my eyes, fell into the rhythm, and got sucked in by the words. After that, I knew what to listen for (little surprises, like her sometimes autobiographical references and her snide asides, not to mention the occasional vulgarity.) She's a beatnik and a bohemian, at once street-smart and vulnerable.
Maybe it's difficult to like her music, but it's also difficult to forget it once you've heard it.
And I probably haven't helped you at all, have I, holborne?
Rickie's music sounds like something out of the theme song from Barney Miller, and her voice can really get abrasive at times. Diction and voice classes might help.
I don't get all the acclaim Rickie Lee Jones receives. Can someone explain it?