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
Flesh & Blood
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We could be a thousand miles away
Take to that road see how far it goes
And on that great ocean road
Oh the country's in our bones
All the trouble that you know
Empties out as you go
Oh come on walk with me, talk with me,
Tell me your stories
I'll do my best to understand you
You're flesh and blood, flesh and blood
Don't refuse me your love
More than words can express
More than wealth or success
Oh there's a thousand things to do
So let's start here with me and you
All the pain that you feel
All the hurt that seems so real
Oh come on walk with me, talk with me,
Tell me your stories
I'll do my very best to understand you
You're flesh and blood
You can't go on holding back
The flooding river
Keeping all that fear inside
I understand how trouble haunts you
Yes and I do know how you feel
There's a thousand things to do
So let's start here with me and you
Gonna take a little time
Let's see what we can find
Oh come on walk with me.........
The song "Flesh and Blood" by Mary Black speaks of the human connection and the desire to understand one another. The opening lines suggest the possibility of escaping from one's troubles by physically leaving, embarking on a journey that could lead a thousand miles away. However, the song emphasizes that the root of the problem lies deep within us, in our "bones," suggesting that true escape may not be possible. The lyrics suggest that by connecting with others and sharing our stories, we can alleviate our pain and find some understanding.
The chorus emphasizes this theme, with the singer asking the listener to share their stories and not to refuse their love. The singer acknowledges that there is more to life than wealth and success, and that the human connection is what truly matters. The second verse continues to emphasize the importance of sharing and not holding back, encouraging the listener to let go of their fears and troubles. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer suggesting that there is much to discover and explore together.
Line by Line Meaning
If we leave here today
If we leave this place right now
we could be a thousand miles away
We could be far from here
Take to that road see how far it goes
Let's take the road and discover where it leads us
And on that great ocean road
On the road by the sea
Oh the country's in our bones
We have a sense of connection to the land
All the trouble that you know
All the problems you are facing
empties out as you go
Disappears as you move forward
Chorus:
Refrain:
Oh come on walk with me, talk with me,
tell me your stories
Let's walk and talk, share our stories
I'll do my best to understand you
I'll try my best to comprehend you
You're flesh and blood, flesh and blood
You are human, like me
Don't refuse me your love
Don't reject my affection
More than words can express
More than wealth or success
More valuable than any material possessions
Oh there's a thousand things to do
There are countless things we could do
So let's start here with me and you
Let's begin with ourselves
All the pain that you feel
All the hurt that seems so real
The emotional turmoil you are experiencing
You can't go on holding back
the flooding river
You can't keep suppressing your emotions
Keeping all that fear inside
Holding onto your fears
I understand how trouble haunts you
I can empathize with how you feel
Yes and I do know how you feel
I truly understand your emotions
There's a thousand things to do
There are countless things we could do
So let's start here with me and you
Let's begin with ourselves
Gonna take a little time
Let's see what we can find
It may take a while, but let's explore and discover
Oh come on walk with me.........
Let's walk together
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHANE HOWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bernicewalsh3432
Beautiful Lady, Beautiful Singer. Wow what amazing songs she sings. I lived in London when I was younger. When I was 19 I got the Collection CD. However, I loved it so much I ended up singing to it every day for 6 months and then sang those songs in a band. Wow, everyone went mad for the Mary Black Songs and also they loved the Paul Brady stuff from Bagatelle. Great singers and song writers in Ireland. Now that Mary Black is cutting back on her gigs etc, I am getting a band together here in England to form a tribute band to her. Hopefully, we will be at the Cambridge Folk Festival next year. That has always been my dream.
Let's keep these songs alive for as long as possible.
@bridgetlee6263
Super voice
One of Ireland’s finest artists.
Thanks for the songs
@hazelwillerton5562
Wot a voice can listen 4 hours.. So relaxing.. Luvley Irish lady.😁
@markevans6213
Such a wonderful lady my favorite when ever I listen to her which is got a bit she brings out every emotion I have
@thomaskelly1286
Great song great stories between two people . Beautiful ❤️ 🇮🇪.
@simonschroder2134
Sweet and meaningful... Well done :-)"Walk with me, talk with ne, tell me your stories, I'll do my very best to understand you"
@streetdrinker7428
Wow! That's a brilliant and beautiful song!🎙🎶❤ Love the lyrics, and especially the guitar as well! 💯
@bevbecks1
My favourite
@joejinzo1513
Mary Black is one of my most favorite artists. Irish music is a great alternative to American music.
@thomaskelly6554
Listening to this Magnificent Song.
Dec.20.2019 🎤🎶🎶🎵🙏🍀🍀