Story Behind The Song

I was wishing I could read minds so I could know what prospective partners were thinking and avoid the deceptions and game-playing of trying to start a relationship.

Song Description

Two people on a date trying to figure each other out.

Lyrics

verse 1
What are you thinking? You?re asking me as if you really want to know
We?re sitting here drinking, and I should?ve stopped thinking about an hour ago.
I was wishing I could read you like an open book
Your stories were collected but your hands still shook, and

chorus
I?m not looking for the illustrated man, but I sure would like a clue
A suggestion or command that would help me understand
What goes on inside of you.

verse 2
What?s that on your shoulder, in between the roses and the bleeding heart
You?ve covered it over, so the world will never see your greatest work of art
Now a million color memories are creeping in
they burn like needles underneath my skin, and
chorus
I?m not looking for the illustrated man, but I sure would like a clue
A suggestion or command that would help me understand
What goes on inside of you.

bridge

Oh, and everything is looking up, ?til I look down
From the top, yeah, some would find it thrilling but
Things are picking up ?til I?m put down,
And the suspense is killing me.

verse 3
Maybe tomorrow, we?ll laugh about the way we?ve broken all the rules
We?ve finished the bottle, and we?re talking ?round in circles like a couple of fools
And I?m leaving you this evening with a new tattoo,
We?ll add it to the list of things we can?t undo, and

chorus
I?m not looking for the illustrated man, but I sure would like a clue
A suggestion or command that would help me understand
What goes on inside of you.