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 Rรณisรญn is performing under the name Rรณisรญn 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
Colcannon
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Made with lovely pickled cream
With the greens & scallions mingled
Like a pitcher in a dream
Did you ever make a hole on top
To hold the meltin' flake
Or the creamy flavoured butter
That our mother's used to make
Chorus
Oh you did, so you did
So did he and so did I
And the more I think about it
Sure the nearer I'm to cry
Oh weren't them the happy days
When troubles we knew not
And or mother made colcannon
In the little skillet pot
Well, did you ever take potatoe cake
And boxty to the school
Tucked underneath your oxter with
Your books, your slate and rule
And when teacher wasn't looking'
Sure a great big bite you'd take
Of the creamy flavoured soft and meltin'
Sweet potatoe cake
Chorus
Well did you ever go a courtin' boys
When the evenin' sun went down
And the moon began a peepin'
From behind the hill o' down
And you wandered down the boreen
Where the clรบrachรกn was seen
And you whispered lovin' praises to
Your own dear sweet cรกilรญn
Chorus
The song 'Colcannon' by Mary Black is a nostalgic Irish tune that takes the listener back to a time when life was simple, the troubles were unknown and colcannon was a staple. Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made from mashed potatoes, cabbage or kale, milk or cream, and butter. In the song, the singer asks the listener whether they have ever made colcannon with pickled cream, mixed with greens and scallions similar to a pitcher in a dream. They inquire whether the listener has ever made a hole on top to hold the melting flake or the creamy flavored butter that their mothers used to make. The chorus is a refrain that expresses how everyone had enjoyed colcannon and how the memories of those happy days made the listeners emotional.
The second verse is about taking potato cake and boxty to school tucked under your arm with your books, slate, and rule. A great big bite is taken from the creamy and sweet melting potato cake when the teacher wasn't looking. The third and final verse tells of going courtin' when the evening sun went down, wandering down the boreen where the leprechauns were seen, whispering loving praises to the singer's own dear sweet girl. The song ends with the chorus once again, emphasizing how happy those days were, and how much the simple things in life like colcannon, potato cake, and love mattered more.
Line by Line Meaning
Well did you ever make colcannon,
Have you ever prepared a traditional Irish dish called Colcannon?
Made with lovely pickled cream
Using a dairy product known as pickled cream.
With the greens & scallions mingled
Mixing scallions and green vegetables in it.
Like a pitcher in a dream
As if it were a surreal dream.
Did you ever make a hole on top
Have you ever created a well-shaped space at its peak?
To hold the meltin' flake
To contain melted butter.
Or the creamy flavoured butter
Or the butter infused with a sweet flavor.
That our mother's used to make
The butter that was prepared by our mothers.
Chorus
Refrain
Oh you did, so you did
Oh, you did make it.
So did he and so did I
It was prepared by you, him, and me.
And the more I think about it
The thought of it makes me emotional.
Sure the nearer I'm to cry
I'm getting closer to tears.
Oh weren't them the happy days
The beautiful moments we cherished.
When troubles we knew not
When we were unaware of problems.
And or mother made colcannon
And our mothers would prepare Colcannon.
In the little skillet pot
In a small pan.
Well, did you ever take potatoe cake
Have you ever carried potato cake.
And boxty to the school
And a potato pancake to school.
Tucked underneath your oxter with
Hiding it under your armpit.
Your books, your slate and rule
Along with your study materials.
And when teacher wasn't looking'
And when the teacher turned away.
Sure a great big bite you'd take
You would sneak in a big bite.
Of the creamy flavoured soft and meltin'
Of the velvety and delicious potato cake.
Sweet potatoe cake
Which had a sweet flavor.
Chorus
Refrain
Well did you ever go a courtin' boys
Did you ever date someone?
When the evenin' sun went down
After sunset.
And the moon began a peepin'
When the moon rose above the horizon.
From behind the hill o' down
From behind the hills of Down.
And you wandered down the boreen
And you strolled down the country road.
Where the clรบrachรกn was seen
Where the leprechauns were spotted.
And you whispered lovin' praises to
And you expressed affectionate compliments to.
Your own dear sweet cรกilรญn
Your own sweet girl.
Chorus
Refrain
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robin Sordahl
Well did you ever make colcannon,
Made with lovely pickled cream
With the greens & scallions mingled
Like a pitcher in a dream
Did you ever make a hole on top
To hold the meltin' flake
Or the creamy flavoured butter
That our mother's used to make
Oh you did, so you did
So did he and so did i
And the more I think about it
Sure the nearer I'm to cry
Oh weren't them the happy days
When troubles we knew not
And or mother made colcannon
In the little skillet pot
Well, did you ever take potatoe cake
And boxty to the school
Tucked underneath your oxter with
Your books, your slate and rule
And when teacher wasn't looking'
Sure a great big bite you'd take
Of the creamy flavoured soft and meltin'
Sweet potatoe cake
Oh you did, so you did
So did he and so did i
And the more I think about it
Sure the nearer I'm to cry
Oh weren't them the happy days
When troubles we knew not
And or mother made colcannon
In the little skillet pot
Gugle Yuser
Never had Colcannon, but just heard about today and about this song! Beautiful song and I hope I get to try this dish soon! โค๏ธ๐
Kyra Pillay
i love colcannon
Horse Enthusiast
This is the best recording of the song I've heard! And now I'm craving colcannon yet again...
Kyra Pillay
lol same
Jill Rogoff
Have always loved this recording -- great harmonies.
AnnabethandSaphira
I'm Irish only by heritage, but I adore everything Irish... So much Beauty and history... I hope to visit Ireland myself someday! This song is one of the things I love... Thank you so much for posting it! <3
Sueji Jaro-Ibelgaufts
Someone Irish gave me an album of the Black Family last 1985, learned most of the songs there....I love the song and I enjoy singing it too...
Robin Sordahl
Well did you ever make colcannon,
Made with lovely pickled cream
With the greens & scallions mingled
Like a pitcher in a dream
Did you ever make a hole on top
To hold the meltin' flake
Or the creamy flavoured butter
That our mother's used to make
Oh you did, so you did
So did he and so did i
And the more I think about it
Sure the nearer I'm to cry
Oh weren't them the happy days
When troubles we knew not
And or mother made colcannon
In the little skillet pot
Well, did you ever take potatoe cake
And boxty to the school
Tucked underneath your oxter with
Your books, your slate and rule
And when teacher wasn't looking'
Sure a great big bite you'd take
Of the creamy flavoured soft and meltin'
Sweet potatoe cake
Oh you did, so you did
So did he and so did i
And the more I think about it
Sure the nearer I'm to cry
Oh weren't them the happy days
When troubles we knew not
And or mother made colcannon
In the little skillet pot
countrygirlzify
I went to a show called Celtic Nights the other night (I believe, that's what it's called) I absolutely fell in love with the show, however it was new and they hadn't made a soundtrack for the show yet. I think it helps that I'm full Irish. Thank you for posting the song :)
andythepants
I made colcannon for the first time tonight. I really enjoyed it. I have been craving a taste of Ireland since I came back from there in June.