The Mystery of The X-Files Song Finally Solved After 25 Years

The Elusive X-Files Song Mystery

One mystery in The X-Files has now finally been solved after remaining elusive for more than two decades. First airing in 1993, the hit show, which is created by Chris Carter, follows FBI agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they investigate unsolved paranormal cases. The show features many mysteries throughout its nine seasons and two revivals, but one that has long eluded viewers involves a song that plays during a bar scene in season 6, episode 5, 'Dreamland II,' which aired in 1998.

Mulder ad Scully in the X-Files sat in a white room looking bemused

The big reveal followed a viral thread on X, which got the attention of composer Rob Cairns. Cairns just so happened to know the song's co-writer, Dan Marfisi, who was finally able to clear up the confusion. Marfisi reveals that the song, which is co-written by Glenn Jordan and called 'Staring at the Stars,' was written specifically for that scene in the show, and took about four hours to write. Check out Marfisi's comments and the song below, via the JonesHouse YouTube channel:

'[Cairns] said, 'You might want to check out this Twitter thread, and if you jump in, you will be a hero. So I went and got my cape, and I logged on, and it was a party.

We had a directive to write something that would fit both an alien and a human being. And we kind of looked up in the sky and said, what's up there besides aliens? And we found stars ... that was our brainstorming session. So we turn it in... and that was the end of it. We put it to bed and here we are 25 years later.'

Why The X-Files Has Stood The Test Of Time

The fact that a mystery song featured in The X-Files became the subject of a viral social media thread 25 years after the episode in which it was featured just speaks to the show's enduring popularity. Clearly, it remains a great series to revisit, and the success of The X-Files revival seasons in the mid-2010s further attests to this.

One reason for the show's enduring popularity is simply the strong creative talent involved, both in front of and behind the camera. The X-Files cast, for example, gives audiences a reason to care about the mysteries being investigated. This includes Duchovny and Anderson, but other actors like Robert Patrick, Mitch Pileggi, and Tom Braidwood, among others, were also crucial at fleshing out the world of the show.

Also helping the show remain popular is the continued fascination with aliens and unexplainable phenomenon in popular culture. The X-Files deals with its alien and supernatural subject matter in a dark, mysterious, and grounded way that is careful to leave certain mysteries alive. Instead of relying on spectacle, the show understands the importance of pacing and focusing on character, featuring explorations of ideas and theories that hold up to this day.