From the recording Postcards From the Mission
Peter: lead vocal, 12-string guitar, virtual percussion
Bonnie: harmonies
Joe: harmonies, bass guitar
Jay Evans: lead guitar
Mike Klein: saxophones
Lyrics
Einstein and the Queen of Hearts
Einstein and the Queen of Hearts, behind the clubhouse dealing cards
Trying not to try so hard, Einstein and the Queen of Hearts
Trying not to try so hard, but just to let it happen
The king pretends to take the throne, the queen has all the power
The one-eyed jack lies face-up back behind that fallen tower
The Queen of Spades would bury him, the Queen of Clubs just trembles
Mistaking him perhaps for the young fool that he resembles
All their hands are empty, all their hands are clean
Their hands are on the table, but some hands are rarely seen
The king pretends to make amends, the queen pretends to notice
The three-eyed jack has taken back the wild card that he showed us
The heir-apparent softly sings some sonnets that she wrote us
The harlequin has handed in his resignation notice
All their hands are folding, righteous as can be
Some standing in the cold and dark where no one else can see
The king and queen declare a truce, the four-eyed jack just listens
Counseled by the ace and deuce to cling to his position
The Queen of Cups has covered up her kamikaze mission
And Einstein and the Queen of Hearts, they make their own decision
All their hands are empty, contagious as can be
Some keep it to themselves, some share it far and free
Einstein and the Queen of Hearts – a most unlikely pair
Hand in hand you see them stand, there’s something in the air
No casual connection, no laid-back love affair
No promise of perfection, just an effort to be fair
Their hands hold to each other, their hearts in company
Trying not to try so hard, but just to let it be (let it be)
Einstein and the Queen of Hearts, behind the clubhouse, dealing cards
They’re trying not to try so hard, Einstein and the Queen of Hearts
They’re trying not to try so hard but just to let it happen
I said just let it happen
Just let it happen, just let it happen, just let it happen . . .
I heard it from Einstein and the Queen of Hearts
Talking ‘bout Einstein and the Queen of Hearts