“It Boggles The Mind”: A Teenage Dreamer’s Ode to Unattainable Love
Ah, the early 1970s. A time when the airwaves were still relatively uncluttered, and a fresh-faced singer with a wholesome image could capture the hearts of millions of teenagers. Bobby Sherman was undoubtedly one of those figures, a true teen idol whose charm and accessible pop sound resonated deeply with a generation navigating the complexities of adolescence. And among his myriad of hits, tucked away on his 1971 album, Getting Together, lies a little gem that, for many, perfectly encapsulates the sweet ache of young love: “It Boggles The Mind.”
While not one of his massive chart-topping singles like “Little Woman” or “Julie, Do Ya Love Me“—songs that soared into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #3 and #5 respectively—”It Boggles The Mind” still found its way onto his critically acclaimed fifth studio album, Getting Together, which itself peaked at #71 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Released in 1971, the song emerged as Bobby Sherman was at the zenith of his teen idol status, a period marked by constant touring, appearances on television shows like Shindig! and Here Come the Brides, and a steady stream of magazine features that adorned the walls of countless bedrooms.
The beauty of “It Boggles The Mind” lies in its simple, yet profound, expression of youthful infatuation. Penned by Estelle Levitt and Peter Allen, the lyrics speak to the overwhelming, almost bewildering, nature of a crush so intense it feels inexplicable. “It boggles the mind how I feel about you,” the chorus repeats, a sentiment so relatable to anyone who has ever been utterly captivated by another. It’s not about grand declarations or dramatic gestures; it’s about that internal, almost dizzying sensation when someone occupies your thoughts entirely, when their every move or glance sends ripples through your world. For older readers, it conjures up vivid memories of those first, consuming crushes – the sheer intensity of emotion that, looking back, might seem a touch dramatic, but at the time felt like the very fabric of existence.
There isn’t a dramatic “behind-the-scenes” tale of its creation, no legendary studio meltdown or last-minute lyrical epiphany. Instead, the story of “It Boggles The Mind” is simply the story of Bobby Sherman himself: a talented performer who specialized in crafting innocent, heartfelt pop songs that mirrored the emotional landscape of his target audience. He wasn’t a tortured artist; he was the clean-cut boy next door, the one your parents approved of, and his songs reflected that approachable, earnest persona. This track, in particular, leaned into that image, becoming an anthem for quiet adoration and unspoken longing.
For many of us who grew up in that era, Bobby Sherman‘s music wasn’t just background noise; it was the soundtrack to our first heartthrobs, our tentative steps into understanding what it meant to care deeply for another person. “It Boggles The Mind” captures that sense of wonder, that bewildering joy, when someone unexpectedly becomes the center of your universe. It’s a testament to the power of a simple melody and honest lyrics to evoke a universal human experience – the beautiful, sometimes baffling, journey of the heart. Listening to it now, it’s not just a song; it’s a time machine, transporting us back to simpler days, to the innocence of first crushes, and the boundless optimism of youth. It truly does boggle the mind, how a few minutes of music can hold so many cherished memories.