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
Bright Blue Rose
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without once submerging
Onto the banks of an urban morning
That hungers the first light
Much, much more than mountains ever do
And she, like a ghost beside me
Goes down with the ease of a dolphin
For she is the perfect creature, natural in every feature
And I am the geek with the alchemists' stone
For all of you who must discover
For all who seek to understand
For having left the path of others
You'll find a very special hand
And it is a holy thing
And it is a precious time
And it is the only way
Forget-me-nots among the snow
It's always been, and so it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally
For all of you who must discover
For all who seek to understand
For having left the path of others
You'll find a very special hand
And it is a holy thing
And it is a precious time
And it is the only way
Forget-me-nots among the snow
It's always been, and so it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally
One bright blue rose outlives all those
Two thousand years, and still it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally
The lyrics of Bright Blue Rose by Mary Black are rich with imagery and meaning, and can be interpreted in many different ways. The song speaks to the beauty and complexity of life, and the struggle to find meaning and understanding in the world around us.
The opening lines of the song describe the singer's journey across water and onto the banks of an urban morning. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the journey of life, with the water representing the unknown and the urban morning representing the challenges and opportunities that life presents. The singer then describes a ghostly figure who accompanies them on their journey, effortlessly gliding through the water like a dolphin. This figure is portrayed as the "perfect creature", natural in every way, while the singer sees themselves as a "geek with the alchemists' stone", a reference to someone who is trying to turn base metal into gold through the process of alchemy. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life, and the sense of inadequacy and insecurity that often accompanies that struggle.
The chorus of the song speaks to the idea that those who seek to understand the world and find their own path will be rewarded with a "very special hand", which is described as a "holy thing" and a "precious time". The final lines of the chorus speak to the idea of pondering the mysteries of life and death, and the importance of remembering those who have come before us. The song ends with the image of a bright blue rose that has outlived all those who have come before it, a symbol of the enduring power and beauty of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I skimmed across black water
I traveled over a dark, ominous body of water without ever fully sinking, reaching the edge of an urban landscape awaiting the dawn.
Without once submerging
Without being fully consumed or overcome by the uncertainty and unknowns of the journey.
Onto the banks of an urban morning
Arriving in a bustling cityscape filled with new opportunities and challenges with the promise of a fresh start.
That hungers the first light
Where the excitement and anticipation of daybreak are more desired than the most magnificent mountain range.
Much, much more than mountains ever do
Where the hope and promise of a new day surpasses even the awe-inspiring nature of the highest peaks.
And she, like a ghost beside me
A companion, though seemingly intangible and elusive, joined me on the journey.
Goes down with the ease of a dolphin
Moves with a graceful and effortless fluidity, similar to that of a dolphin's swimming motion.
And emerges unlearned, unshamed, unharmed
Arising from the journey uninstructed, unashamed and unscathed, fully embracing her authentic self.
For she is the perfect creature, natural in every feature
She embodies the essence of perfection, completely unaltered and pure in every aspect of her being.
And I am the geek with the alchemists' stone
I am like the curious researcher of an ancient craft, in awe of the beauty and mystery surrounding me.
For all of you who must discover
This is a message for all those seeking to embark on new journeys, to explore the unknown.
For all who seek to understand
A call to all those yearning to comprehend the mysteries of life and the universe.
For having left the path of others
Those who have ventured off the beaten path and created their unique trail in life.
You'll find a very special hand
You will receive guidance and assistance from something divine and powerful, leading you towards greatness.
And it is a holy thing
The journey is sacred and significant, filled with meaning and purpose.
And it is a precious time
An almost fleeting moment in life where the opportunity for growth and self-discovery presents itself.
And it is the only way
The journey is the only true path towards understanding and enlightenment.
Forget-me-nots among the snow
A small and delicate flower, overshadowed by the harsh and unforgiving winter, symbolising the beauty hidden in unexpected places.
It's always been, and so it goes
This is a truth that has existed since the beginning of time and will continue to prevail.
To ponder his death and his life eternally
To reflect upon the meaning of life and death, grasping the magnitude of the human experience and the fleeting nature of time.
One bright blue rose outlives all those
A singular bright blue rose endures through the ages, representing an unwavering symbol of hope and resilience.
Two thousand years, and still it goes
Even after thousands of years, the rose remains relevant and poignant, reminding us that certain truths are timeless.
To ponder his death and his life eternally
Continuing to reflect on the human experience and the weight of existence, seeking meaning in the mystery.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY MACCARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@peternolan814
Lyrics
I skimmed across black water, without once submerging
Onto the banks of an urban morning
That hungers the first light, much much more
Than mountains ever do.
And she like a ghost beside me, goes down with the ease of a dolphin
And emerges unlearned, unshamed, unharmed
For she is the perfect creature, natural in every feature
And I am the geek with the alchemists' stone.
For all of you who must discover,
For all who seek to understand,
For having left the path of others
You find a very special hand.
And it is a holy thing, and it is a precious time
And it is the only way
Forget-me-nots among the snow, it's always been and so it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally.
For all of you who must discover
For all who seek to understand,
For having left the path of others
You find a very special hand.
And it is a holy thing
And it is the only way
Forget-me-nots among the snow, it's always been and so it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally.
One bright blue rose outlives all those
Two thousand years and still it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally.
@amymcf6978
My mothers funeral song ❤️❤️❤️ she passed 26-5-2022, on her 70th birthday... 2 weeks after my father.. RIP, forever loved ❤️
@frankmangan2113
So sorry for your loss
@Jimmy-nr4kr
Sorry for your loss hang in there
@tonyglavin204
Wow what an appropriate song. And sorry for your loss
@aldrogo7510
sorry for your loss
@delby66
I'm so sorry for your loss. A beautiful song to send her off. May they both RIP. God Bless!!🙏
@bettythompson5617
My sisters & I sang this song as we laid 2 of r family to rest within 2 weeks of eachother people actually clapped outside the crematorium as due to covid it's outside service only.beautiful song but never ever thought we'd b singing it for Sheena & David.xx
@judedoyle734
No matter how many times I hear
Mary black singing bright blue rose. Every time is different, a new experience, a new love for her voice. Just fantastic,sing on liberty girl dublins bright rose.
@martao.1574
Mary Black is the voice of my soul. She can literally describe any feeling within you with words ☘️❤️
@beverlymccloskey6449
the first time I heard her sing this beautiful piece of music, it brought me to tears. That goes back 20+ years. Still resonates.