I Wonder Why? a song by PL Boyle
1970s Written Notes, etc.	21st Century Lyrics/Chords	Latest Recording
Scanned Original Notes (PDF file)	I-WONDER-WHY-2025-07-12.pdf	Audio file: I-WONDER-WHY-ZOOM0428-e.wav Recorded: 07/12/2025 Runtime (min:sec) 02:55
NOTES: My 1970s self left some chords to use and a few lines. Another year has passed since my first 21st century rendition of this song was created. I've shortened it a bit and it is now not quite as fast-pace, guitar-wise. The lyrics now are such that the song generally references someone suddenly leaving someone's life. The person could be a friend, a lover, a spouse, a parent, a child, etc.. Someone has left, not necessarily by suicide, but they left and without explanation. Leaving someone remaining behind "wondering why?". Back Story: I'm pretty sure this was created in my dreaded, dark winter of 1972-73. My best friend and roommate and I had recently moved to Louisville to help "fix" the Steamatic franchise there. We worked pretty hard for the first couple months (Sep-Oct), but things seemed to be going really well. Then on a beautiful autumn Louisville morning I found him after he had committed suicide. That was on October 26, 1972, he was 19, I was 20. Hence, that winter was a big downer for me. I'm guessing that must've been when I jotted down the original notes. There was no title shown, so I've taken the first word in the original lyrics and added a "WHY" -- WONDERING WHY seems to be what I was thinking that winter about a lot of things. Maybe it should have been called WONDERIN' WHY or WUNDRUN WHY. Both are closer to my pronunciation. But it is what it is. In July 2025 I decided to replace most of the "wonderings" with "wonder" due to my inability to pronounce "wondering" correctly. The meaning is the same. Don't fear though, there are still plenty of mumbles in the recording. The title is now "I Wonder Why?" STATUS: Latest version ("I Wonder Why?") completed on July 12, 2025. Previous drafts titled "Wondering Why?" Third Draft January 06, 2024. Second Draft November 15, 2023. First Draft December 20, 2022. The first draft is almost a different song compared to the later versions. I felt it was too upbeat and fast-paced. Might be a candidate for another song of wondering why about something more pleasant... like maybe "why the birds fly", "why the sky is blue", etc.. AUDIO RECORDINGS: No fancy equipment or editing. These recordings are chock-full of mistakes in singing, lyrics and guitar playing. They aren't meant for the top 40 list. But they should give someone an idea of how I intended the song to sound. I will continue trying to get the "perfect" recording, but don't hold your breath too long waiting.

I Wonder Why?

a song by PL Boyle

1970s
Written Notes, etc.

21st Century
Lyrics/Chords

Latest
Recording

I-WONDER-WHY-2025-07-12.pdf

Audio file:
I-WONDER-WHY-ZOOM0428-e.wav
Recorded: 07/12/2025
Runtime (min:sec) 02:55

NOTES: My 1970s self left some chords to use and a few lines. Another year has passed since my first 21st century rendition of this song was created. I've shortened it a bit and it is now not quite as fast-pace, guitar-wise. The lyrics now are such that the song generally references someone suddenly leaving someone's life. The person could be a friend, a lover, a spouse, a parent, a child, etc.. Someone has left, not necessarily by suicide, but they left and without explanation. Leaving someone remaining behind "wondering why?".

Back Story: I'm pretty sure this was created in my dreaded, dark winter of 1972-73. My best friend and roommate and I had recently moved to Louisville to help "fix" the Steamatic franchise there. We worked pretty hard for the first couple months (Sep-Oct), but things seemed to be going really well. Then on a beautiful autumn Louisville morning I found him after he had committed suicide. That was on October 26, 1972, he was 19, I was 20. Hence, that winter was a big downer for me. I'm guessing that must've been when I jotted down the original notes. There was no title shown, so I've taken the first word in the original lyrics and added a "WHY" -- WONDERING WHY seems to be what I was thinking that winter about a lot of things. Maybe it should have been called WONDERIN' WHY or WUNDRUN WHY. Both are closer to my pronunciation. But it is what it is.

In July 2025 I decided to replace most of the "wonderings" with "wonder" due to my inability to pronounce "wondering" correctly. The meaning is the same. Don't fear though, there are still plenty of mumbles in the recording. The title is now "I Wonder Why?"

STATUS: Latest version ("I Wonder Why?") completed on July 12, 2025.
Previous drafts titled "Wondering Why?"
Third Draft January 06, 2024.
Second Draft November 15, 2023.
First Draft December 20, 2022. The first draft is almost a different song compared to the later versions. I felt it was too upbeat and fast-paced. Might be a candidate for another song of wondering why about something more pleasant... like maybe "why the birds fly", "why the sky is blue", etc..

AUDIO RECORDINGS: No fancy equipment or editing. These recordings are chock-full of mistakes in singing, lyrics and guitar playing. They aren't meant for the top 40 list. But they should give someone an idea of how I intended the song to sound. I will continue trying to get the "perfect" recording, but don't hold your breath too long waiting.