Subways of Your Mind facts for kids

Quick facts for kids "Subways of Your Mind"
Official artwork of the 2024 digital/vinyl studio version rerelease
Single by Fex
from the album Skyscraper
B-side	"Heart in Danger" (2024 single) "Talking Hands" (2025 single)
Released	1985
Recorded	1984
Studio	Hawkeye Studio, Ganderkesee (studio version) "Löffelstudios"/Heikendorf practice room (NDR version) Heikendorf practice room (Rehearsal version)
Genre	Post-punk new wave
Length	3:06 (NDR demo version) 3:54 (1985 studio version) 4:25 (Heikendorf rehearsal recording)
Composer(s)	Ture Rückwardt Michael Hädrich
Lyricist(s)	Ture Rückwardt

"Subways of Your Mind" is a song by the German new wave band Fex. It was recorded in 1984. In 1985, a demo cassette tape with the song was released. This tape helped promote the band's live shows.

For many years, the song was a big mystery online. On March 18, 2007, a recording from a radio broadcast was uploaded to the internet. No one knew the artist or the song's name. This led to a 17-year search. During this time, the song became known as "The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet". It is a famous example of lostwave, which is music with unknown origins.

The song was recorded from a radio show in the mid-1980s. In 2019, it became a huge internet puzzle. Many people on sites like Reddit and Discord worked together to find out who made it.

On November 4, 2024, a Reddit user named u/marijn1412 finally identified the song. It was "Subways of Your Mind" by Fex, a rock band from Kiel, Germany. The band later released an EP with a studio version of the song. They also shared a recording of a live performance from the same year. The daughter of the band's keyboardist, Michael Hädrich, found a cassette copy of the radio version. A higher-quality version was also found in lead singer Ture Rückwardt's archives.

The Meaning Behind "Subways of Your Mind"

Fex's keyboardist, Michael Hädrich, shared what inspired the song. He explained that it mixes feelings of worry with hope.

The 1980s were a time of global tension, known as the Cold War. People sometimes felt uncertain about the future. The song captures this "no future" feeling. However, it also includes positive messages about "young and restless dreamers." This mix of sadness and hope makes the song special.

Different Versions of the Song

There are several known recordings of "Subways of Your Mind." These include studio versions and live performances.

Studio Recordings

Three different studio recordings of the song exist.

• The first recording was in June 1984. It was made in the band's practice room in Heikendorf. This version has a lower sound quality. Bassist Jörg Lemcke played on this recording.
• The second recording is known as the "NDR recording." It was made in the same practice room. This is the version that was played on German radio. It has a shorter introduction and fades out at the end. Jörg Lemcke was also the bassist for this recording.
• The third recording is a professional studio version. It was made in November 1984 at Hawkeye Studios. This version is on the band's 1985 EP. It has a longer intro and ending. Norbert Ziermann played bass on this recording.

Live Performances

The band recorded their concerts to improve their music. Five live recordings of the song are known, with three having been shared publicly.

• The earliest live recording is from June 9, 1984. It was performed at a venue called Lutterbeker. Ture Rückwardt's wife, Ilona, sang backing vocals. Michael Hädrich played keyboards.
• A second live recording was made on March 20, 1985, in Uelzen.
• The third live recording was from May 25, 1985, at the Roxy in Paderborn. This was the first live version shared online. It was released for streaming in December 2024.
• An acoustic performance was given on November 7, 2024, for German radio station NDR 1. This happened after the band was identified. This version does not have drums.

How the Song Was First Heard

A German teenager named Darius S. from Wilhelmshaven recorded the song. He heard it on a German public radio station in the 1980s. Darius recorded the song onto a cassette tape. He often removed the radio hosts' talking to get clean recordings. This is why the exact date and song title were unknown for so long.

Fex believes the song was broadcast around early September 1984. They are not sure which radio show played it or how it ended up on NDR radio.

The Online Search for the Song

In 2004, Darius's older sister, Lydia H., helped him create a website. He used it to share his unidentified songs. He uploaded the radio recordings to his site, which he named Unknown Pleasures.

On March 18, 2007, Lydia started searching online for the song. She posted a short part of the song to different forums and fan sites. The song slowly spread across the internet. It was uploaded to WatZatSong in 2009 and YouTube in 2011.

In 2017, a Spanish record label posted the song excerpt to their YouTube channel. This caught the attention of Gabriel Pelenson, who started his own search in 2019. Pelenson created a Reddit community called r/TheMysteriousSong. People contacted many individuals who might know about the song. This included radio DJ Paul Baskerville and music organizations. Baskerville played the song on his radio show in July 2019. This helped Lydia and Darius learn about the new search efforts. Lydia then joined the Reddit community.

Early Clues and Theories

People searching for the song generally agreed the singer had a European accent. Some thought the Yamaha DX7 synthesizer was used. Fex's keyboardist Michael Hädrich later confirmed this.

Many believed the song was recorded in 1984. This was because other songs on Darius's tape were from that time. Also, the tape deck Darius likely used was made in 1984. Paul Baskerville thought it might have been a demo recording played only once. Other theories about the song's origin were later disproven.

Becoming an Internet Sensation

The mystery of "Subways of Your Mind" grew very popular online.

• In May 2019, the Australian music news website Tone Deaf wrote an article about the search.
• American YouTuber Justin Whang made several videos about the song. His videos encouraged more people to help find the song.
• Many artists created their own cover versions and remixes of the song.
• In March 2023, the song was used in MyHouse.wad, a Doom II game mod. The song's mysterious feel made it popular with the "liminal space" internet trend. Liminal spaces are places that feel like a transition, often empty or eerie.

The Song is Finally Identified

On November 4, 2024, Reddit user u/marijn1412 announced the song's identity. It was "Subways of Your Mind" by the German band Fex. The user contacted a band member, who confirmed the discovery. Fex members Michael Hädrich and Ture Rückwardt also spoke to newspapers, confirming the story.

On November 7, 2024, three of the original band members performed an acoustic version of the song. They played it for the German radio station NDR 1 Welle Nord.

The song also appeared in the 2025 horror film Black Phone 2. In the movie, a character watches a music video for "Subways of Your Mind." On October 1, 2025, the band officially released a music video for the song. Darius, who first recorded the song, was a special guest in the video.

Song Details

Track List

All songs written and composed by Ture Rückwardt and Michael Hädrich. 

Who Played on the Song

Studio versions

• Ture Rückwardt – composer, lead vocals, guitar
• Norbert Ziermann – bass (1984 studio version)
• Michael Hädrich – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (NDR radio version, 1984 studio version)
• Hans-Reimer Sievers – drums
• Jörg Lemcke – bass (NDR radio version, Practice room rehearsal version)

Live versions

• Ture Rückwardt – lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar (2024 NDR Unplugged performance)
• Norbert Ziermann – bass, acoustic bass guitar (2024 NDR Unplugged performance)
• Michael Hädrich – keyboards, electric guitar, backing vocals, acoustic guitar (2024 NDR Unplugged performance)
• Hans-Reimer Sievers – drums (1980s concerts)
• Jörg Lemcke – bass (1984 Lutterbeker concert)
• Ilona Rückwardt – backing vocals (1984 Lutterbeker concert)

See also

In Spanish: La canción más misteriosa de Internet para niños

• Lost media
• Rare groove
• Deathmetal (EP)
• "How Long" (Paula Toledo song)
• "Ready 'n' Steady"
• "Ulterior Motives"