The band initially formed as the Classics (1964) in Vancouver, British Columbia, but later changed the name to the Collectors (1966). Their psychedelic debut album yielded the minor but long-remembered hit 'Lydia Purple'. A second album was based on the musical score written by the band for a stage play by Canadian playwright George Ryga, 'Grass and Wild Strawberries'.
After lead singer Howie Vickers left the group in 1970, the band changed its name to Chilliwack, a Salish term meaning "going back up". With lead guitarist Bill Henderson now providing most of the vocals and doing most of the composing, the band released several records that were moderately successful in Canada. Major hit singles in Canada included "Lonesome Mary", "Crazy Talk" and "Fly at Night". The album track "Rain-o", an elegant, soaring, blues-based composition that appeared in different versions on the Chilliwack debut album and the later "Dreams, Dreams, Dreams", was a well known concert favourite.
In 1978, Brian MacLeod (guitar, drums, keyboards) and Ab Bryant (bass) joined the band. Chilliwack enjoyed its greatest success with this new lineup. The singles "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)" (1981), "I Believe" (1982), and "Whatcha Gonna Do (When I'm Gone)" (1982) were popular both in Canada and in the U.S. The band was extremely popular at the time, and was regarded as the Canadian answer to the Grateful Dead. Rolling Stone Magazine wrote:
"At their best, Chilliwack was the finest Canadian rock band, outrocking BTO and Moxy and outwriting Burton Cummings. But a lack of consistency kept it from international success."
Henderson and MacLeod received a Best Producer Juno Award in 1982 for Opus X. In early 1983, MacLeod and Bryant left the band, to devote more time to their other project, the Headpins (with Denise McCann and then Darby Mills as lead vocalists). Chilliwack's last new recording was released in 1984 and Henderson and Lawrence continued to tour with other players until December 1988. In 1989 Bill Henderson went on to form the band UHF.
2005 saw Chilliwack play Voyageur Days Festival in Mattawa, Ontario, Canada (near North Bay) with other Canadian classic rockers Moxy, Toronto, Trooper, Goddo, Killer Dwarfs & Ray Lyell for the 30th anniversary for release of the debut album by the band Moxy.
Arms Of Mary
Chilliwack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wind blows up the alley
Oh, and I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
She took the pains of boyhood
And turned them into feel good
Oh, and I wish was lying in the arms of Mary
She put me right on the first mistake
Summer wasn't gone and I'd learned all she had to show
She really gave all a boy could take, yeah
So now, when I get lonely
Still looking for the one and only
That's when I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
Mary was the girl who taught me all I had to know
She put me right on the first mistake
Summer wasn't gone and I'd learned all she had to show
She really gave all a boy could take
Mary was the girl who taught me all I had to know
She put me right on the first mistake
Summer wasn't gone and I'd learned all she had to show
She really gave all a boy could take, yeah
The light shines down the valley
The wind blows up the alley
Oh, and I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
Oh, and I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
"Arms of Mary" is a song by Chilliwack that expresses the longing and nostalgia for a past love. The singer reminisces about a girl named Mary who taught him everything he needed to know during his childhood. Mary was able to take his troubles and turn them into positive experiences. Throughout the song, the singer expresses that when he is lonely and searching for true love, he thinks back to Mary and wishes he could be back in her arms.
The lyrics also paint a vivid picture of the setting with the valley illuminated by light and the wind blowing through the alley. These descriptions add to the longing and nostalgia for the past. The repetition of the lyrics "oh, and I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary" highlights the singer's desire for the comfort and security he felt with her.
Overall, "Arms of Mary" is a song that explores themes of love, nostalgia, and longing for a past relationship. The lyrics tell a story of a boy learning valuable lessons from a girl and cherishing the memories they shared.
Line by Line Meaning
The light shines down the valley
The sunlight is beaming through the valley and making its way to where the singer is.
The wind blows up the alley
The wind is blowing in the opposite direction of where the singer is heading.
Oh, and I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
The singer yearns to be held and comforted by Mary, an important person from their past.
She took the pains of boyhood
Mary helped the artist navigate through the challenges of growing up.
And turned them into feel good
Mary managed to transform those challenges into positive experiences for the artist.
Mary was the girl who taught me all I had to know
Mary was instrumental in shaping the singer's life and helping them grow.
She put me right on the first mistake
Mary corrected the singer when they made an erroneous decision early on.
Summer wasn't gone and I'd learned all she had to show
Mary imparted a lot of wisdom on the artist during the short time they spent together.
She really gave all a boy could take, yeah
Mary gave her all to ensure the artist was learning and growing during their time together.
So now, when I get lonely
During times of solitude, the artist thinks back to Mary and the lessons she taught them.
Still looking for the one and only
The singer still seeks to find someone who can fill the void left by Mary's absence.
That's when I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
During those moments of longing, the artist wishes that Mary was still there to comfort them.
Oh, and I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's desire to be held and comforted by Mary.
Contributed by Olivia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@plainsimpledav946
Arms of Mary, the - Chilliwack
The light shines down the valley
The wind blows up the alley
Oh, and I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
She took the pains of boyhood
And turned them into feel good
Oh, and I wish was lying in the arms of Mary
Mary was the girl who taught me all I had to know
She put me right on the first mistake
Summer wasn't gone and I'd learned all she had to show
She really gave all a boy could take, yeah
So now, when I get lonely
Still looking for the one and only
That's when I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
Mary was the girl who taught me all I had to know
She put me right on the first mistake
Summer wasn't gone and I'd learned all she had to show
She really gave all a boy could take
Mary was the girl who taught me all I had to know
She put me right on the first mistake
Summer wasn't gone and I'd learned all she had to show
She really gave all a boy could take, yeah
The light shines down the valley
The wind blows up the alley
Oh, and I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
Oh, and I wish I was lying in the arms of Mary
Written by Iain Sutherland
@hebber1961
these guys were very underrated. i saw them live in the 70's & they put on a great live show. all these Chilliwack songs would be international hits if some american band did them.
@Stygian60
Totally agree !!!
@tommy4162661670
One of the greatest canadian bands ever...I was stationed in chilliwack in the summer of 1980 in the military....Four weeks of the greatest time of my young life..I cannot desrcirbe how much I loved living in this beautiful place..such great memories of cultus lake, and the mountains of chilliwack...damm great memories..yes BC is gods paradise, ..AS LONG AS U CAN AFFORD IT..LOL
@randymarsh5088
These guys are great not sure why it feels like history never gave them their full chance
@laurenelizabeth2505
agreed
@liveyouryoga
Inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in 2019. ❤
@MrPumpkin8ter
Highly underrated.
@timhugelen4506
Chilliwack was one of my favorite Canadian bands that I listened to in high school. I grew up in central North Dakota and listened to Canadian radio from Winnipeg all the time.
@charlesbannab2786
In central North Dakota, the only music station from Winnipeg you would have been able to pick up on your terrestrial radio would have been 580 CKY , which did play the 80's Canadian classics like this tune from Chilliwack. Too bad that radio station went extinct with it changing to a adult contemporary FM radio format.
@brendahyatt2976
I did too but from Ontario