Black was born into a musical family. Her father had been a fiddler, her mother a singer, and her brothers have their own group. She sang in her family's group in her youth.
In 1975 Black joined a small folk band called General Humbert, with whom she toured Europe and released two albums, in 1975 and 1978. In 1982 she developed a professional relationship with musician/producer Declan Sinnott and recorded her first solo album, Mary Black.
She went on to play in other groups including the traditional Irish band De Dannan from 1984-1986. After 1986 she had a successful solo career where she went on to try contemporary styles ranging from jazz to country. She was named "Best Female Artist" in the IRMA poll in 1987, 1988, 1992, 1994 and 1996.
She is married to Joe O'Reilly of Dara Records and they have three children. Her son Danny is a member of the Irish rock band The Coronas, while her daughter Róisín is performing under the name Róisín O.
For a number of years, "What Hi-Fi?" magazine considered Black's voice to be so pure that it was used as an audiophile benchmark for comparing the sound quality of different high fidelity systems.
Discography
* 1983 Mary Black
* 1984 Collected
* 1985 Without the Fanfare
* 1987 By the Time it Gets Dark
* 1989 No Frontiers
* 1991 Babes in the Wood
* 1992 The Collection
* 1993 The Holy Ground
* 1995 Circus
* 1997 Shine
* 1999 Speaking with the Angel
* 2001 The Best of Mary Black 1991-2001 & Hidden Harvest
* 2003 Mary Black Live
* 2005 Full Tide
* 2008 Twenty-Five Years Twenty-Five Songs
* 2011 Stories from the Steeples
Bless the Road
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Singing weaving mystical rings
Now in a while my precious child
You wil unfurl your wings
And I'll have lost what I believed
Had promised everything
But before you go my friend, my kind companion
Listen to this song I sing
Then go in peace and grow in grace and goodness
Know that you have nothing to fear
And dry your eyes my little one
And let there be no tears
Send me a dream from away beyond
I promise I shall hear
Oh beautifull beloved soul companion
Thank you for those beautifull years
And heaven hold and watch your way forever
May your every dream com true
Forgive all wrong, always be strong
And do what you must do
You stand before this open door
And you must now go through
My precious friend, my own my sweet companion
Bless the road that carries you
My precious friend, myu own my sweet companion
Bless the road that carries you
The song "Bless the Road" by Mary Black is a poignant and heartfelt tribute to a beloved friend or family member who is about to embark on a new journey. The opening verses recall a time when the two of them walked together on hills of heather and sang songs of mystical rings. However, as time has passed and the listener has grown up and is now ready to "unfurl their wings," the singer realizes that she will lose something precious when her companion leaves. Despite this sadness, she implores her friend to listen to one last song before departing.
The next verse is a beautiful expression of love and support, as the singer assures her companion that there is nothing to fear, and encourages her to go forth and pursue her dreams. She promises to be there for her friend in spirit, even if they are physically separated. The final verse is a blessing and a farewell, as the singer asks for forgiveness, urges her friend to be strong in the face of adversity, and acknowledges that "you must now go through" the open door. She wishes her friend well on her journey, and hopes that all her dreams will come true.
Overall, "Bless the Road" is a touching and deeply emotional song, which captures the bittersweet feelings of saying goodbye to someone you love. It emphasizes the importance of cherishing the time that we have with our loved ones, even as we acknowledge that change is inevitable.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when we walked on hills of heather
Think back to the time we wandered through fields of flowering heather
Singing weaving mystical rings
Our voices lifted in song, creating an enchanting and magical atmosphere
Now in a while my precious child
Soon, my dear, you will be departing
You will unfurl your wings
You will be free to spread your wings and soar
And I'll have lost what I believed
I'll be left questioning everything I've ever known
Had promised everything
Promised a future that now may not come to be
But before you go my friend, my kind companion
Before you depart, my dear and close friend
Listen to this song I sing
Take a moment to hear the melody I offer
Then go in peace and grow in grace and goodness
Depart with ease and continue to mature in kindness and virtue
Know that you have nothing to fear
Take comfort in the fact that you need not be afraid
And dry your eyes my little one
Wipe away your tears, my young companion
And let there be no tears
Allow your heart to be light and free of sorrow
Send me a dream from away beyond
When you're far away, send me a dream of your journey
I promise I shall hear
I promise I'll be listening with an open heart
Oh beautifull beloved soul companion
My dearest friend and heart's companion
Thank you for those beautifull years
I'm grateful for the time we've shared together
And heaven hold and watch your way forever
May you be forever watched over and cared for by the divine
May your every dream come true
May all your hopes and aspirations be realized
Forgive all wrong, always be strong
Forgive others and remain steadfast in your inner strength
And do what you must do
Pursue what you are called to do, regardless of challenges or opposition
You stand before this open door
You are at the threshold of a new beginning
And you must now go through
It's your time to move forward and embrace what lies ahead
My precious friend, my own my sweet companion
My cherished companion, dear to my heart
Bless the road that carries you
May the journey ahead be filled with blessings and favor
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bruce Thomson
Beautiful, thank you. It is pretty much a 'hymn', and deserves a quieter context than a cheery talking morning show. I see other comments showing it this respect. When I first heard it (another, more gentle recording), it made me cry, I imagine the author, Steve, might have done that when writing it, it's so strong in its feelings. Thanks again, Bruce Thomson, in New Zealand.
Mary Smail
This song says everything about losing a beloved. She is so lovely. Thank you Mary!
James Hayes
They played this at my sons funeral he was 18
Monjo Hakashi
This is so sweet and lovely.
LovelyAmsterdam
@danps1977 it's a beautiful and emotional song. we arranged this song too at the funeral of my mother 7 years ago. It never leaves me. I wish you all the strength with this big lost of your partner.
kenny G
Thank you