I am looking for a song that I heard only once or twice on a college
radio station during the mid 80's. It is probably brit pop of the
jangle variety. The song title is probably Southern Mystery or This
Southern Mystery. The lyrics that I remember "A mystery painting that
hangs on the wall...this southern mystery, come come now you're
teasing me..." I have to confess that I did figure out the artist and
album myself, but it took me almost 20 yrs (but only a couple of months after
I went online) and I want to see how long it takes the experts.

Hi h2olily,

From your description, I am assuming the song is "Southern Mystery" by
"Brilliant Corners", which is on the "Growing Up Absurd" album
(released Sep 1985).
  
"Brilliant Corners history, in a nutshell: The band was from Bristol,
led by songwriter Davey Woodward, started up around 1984 or so, and
released its last LP in 1993 (although there have been unconfirmed
rumors, on this very list, of newer Brilliant Corners product). The
Brilliant Corners sound, in a nutshell: The very earliest singles were
a litle swampabilly-ish, but the band quickly developed a more jangly,
trumpet-driven sound that is, in my book at least, a touchstone of
classic indiepop (that's '80s-style, kids, not the overly rock stuff
out there these days)."
http://www.twee.net/bands/brilliantcor.html
  
Songs by The Brilliant Corners:
http://www.twee.net/bands/brilliantcor_songs.html
  
I hope this is the song you are referring to. If it's not the correct
song, please request a clarification and I'll give it another shot.
  
  
Best regards,
  
Jackburton
  
  
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Search strategy:
"southern mystery" song
"southern mystery" brilliant corners
"southern mystery" "Growing Up Absurd"

And I had to figure it out the hard way!

Thanks for the tip!