Corbel now lives in Paris and performs in France and abroad. Her music blends ancient poems and compositions, celtic tunes and Mediterranean influences. She was noticed during her concerts and had the opportunity to play with the greatest “world music” artists:
Mary
Cécile Corbel Lyrics
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Dreaming of northern shores
Lost galleons on the sea
Mary ever on her way
O can you sail and come back?
O can you leave away?
Temples of gold and hidden lands
Knocking on the door, he came by
Knocking on the door, he tried out
Knocking on the door, he turned back
Mary, won't you marry me?
Mary is a corsair
Dreaming of (old) treasures
Wild tempest on the sea
Mary ever on her way
O can you hear the foghorn?
O can you see the waves?
Ivory foam and gloomy rain
Mary, I don't want to wait
Knocking on the door, he came by
Knocking on the door, he tried out
Knocking on the door, he turned back
Mary, won't you marry me?
Knocking on the door, he came by
Knocking on the door, he tried out
Knocking on the door, he turned back
Mary, won't you marry me?
Mary was a sailor
But she is drowned to die
She sleeps under the sea
Mary ever on her way
Waited for a long time
Longed to see her face
My love's under the sea
She will never marry me
Oh Mary...
Oh Mary...
Tell me just one...
Mary, won't you marry me?
Knocking on the door, he came by
Knocking on the door, he tried out
Knocking on the door, he turned back
Mary, won't you marry me?
Knocking on the door, he came by
Knocking on the door, he tried out
Knocking on the door, he turned back
Mary, won't you marry me?
The song "Mary" by Cécile Corbel tells the story of a woman named Mary who is a sailor or a corsair dreaming of adventure, lost treasures, and northern shores. She is always on the move, navigating wild tempests and searching for something more. The chorus of the song, "Knocking on the door, he came by / Knocking on the door, he tried out / Knocking on the door, he turned back / Mary, won't you marry me?" suggests that there is someone who is in love with Mary and wants her to settle down with him, but Mary is too restless and adventurous to commit to a life on land. In the end, Mary is drowned to die and her lover is left longing for her.
The lyrics are symbolic of the human desire to explore and discover the unknown, even at the risk of losing everything. Mary represents that primal urge for adventure that exists within all of us. The character who wants to marry her represents the practical side of life that urges us to settle down and create a stable home, but ultimately, it is the adventurer within us that wins out. The chorus is poignant because it shows how there are always those who try to tame and domesticate the wanderers among us, but they can never succeed in capturing our adventurous spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Mary is a sailor
Mary is a woman who sails the sea
Dreaming of northern shores
Mary has ambitions to explore the seas and discover new lands in the North
Lost galleons on the sea
Mary comes across sunken ships and lost treasures while sailing
Mary ever on her way
Mary is always on the move, sailing to new destinations and adventures
O can you sail and come back?
Can Mary sail the seas and return home safely?
O can you leave away?
Can Mary leave everything and everyone behind to embark on her sea voyages?
Temples of gold and hidden lands
Mary dreams of finding fabled lands of gold and riches while exploring the seas
Mary, I don’t want to wait
Someone close to Mary does not want to wait for her to return from her sea adventures
Knocking on the door, he came by
Someone visits Mary's doorstep
Knocking on the door, he tried out
The visitor attempts to persuade Mary to marry them
Knocking on the door, he turned back
The visitor is ultimately unsuccessful in their proposal and leaves
Mary is a corsair
Mary is a pirate-like figure, raiding ships and looting treasures
Dreaming of (old) treasures
Mary fantasizes about finding and claiming treasures from long ago
Wild tempest on the sea
Mary endures dangerous storms and rough conditions while sailing
O can you hear the foghorn?
Can Mary hear the warning sounds of the foghorn in the distance?
O can you see the waves?
Can Mary see the towering waves crashing around her?
Ivory foam and gloomy rain
Mary encounters thick foam and dark rain during her sea journey
Mary was a sailor
Mary had a life at sea, but is now deceased
But she is drowned to die
Mary met her end at sea, drowning in her final voyage
She sleeps under the sea
Mary's body now rests at the bottom of the ocean
Waited for a long time
Someone close to Mary waited for her to return from her sea travels for a significant amount of time
Longed to see her face
The person waiting for Mary wants to see her again, but cannot
My love's under the sea
The person waiting for Mary is in love with her, but she has perished
She will never marry me
The person waiting for Mary will never have a chance to marry her
Oh Mary...
A mournful cry out to Mary
Tell me just one...
The singer wants to hear something from Mary, even though she cannot respond
Mary, won't you marry me?
An unanswered question, as Mary has passed away and cannot respond to the proposal
Contributed by Lily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.