Mary Black (born 23 May 1955 in Dublin) is an Irish singer. She is well kno… Read Full Bio ↴Mary Black (born 23 May 1955 in Dublin) is an Irish singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both folk and contemporary material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland and in many other parts of the world. She was named "Best Female Artist" in the IRMA poll in 1987, 1988, 1992, 1994 and 1996.

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

I Say a Little Prayer
Mary Black Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The moment I wake up, before I put on my make up
I say a little prayer for you
While combing my hair now
And wonderin' what dress to wear now
I say a little prayer for you

Forever, forever you'll stay in my heart
And I will love you forever and ever

We never will part and I will love you
Together, together that's how it must be
To live without you could only mean heartbreak for me

I run for the bus dear, while riding I think of us, dear
And say a little prayer for you
At work I just take time, and all through my coffee break time
I say a little prayer for you

Darlin' believe me, for me there is no one but you
Say you love me too
'cause I'm in love with you
Answer my prayer now
Say you love me too
Just answer my prayer now
Say you love me too

The moment I wake up, before I put on my make up
Answer my prayer now
Say you love me too

Just answer my prayer now
Say you love me too

Overall Meaning

Mary Black's version of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "I Say a Little Prayer" is a tender portrayal of a woman who starts her day by saying a prayer for her beloved before she even puts on her makeup. As she combs her hair and chooses her dress, she prays that her love will last forever and that they will always be together. She continues to pray for her love throughout the day, even during mundane moments like riding the bus and taking a coffee break at work.

The lyrics convey a deep and abiding love that is rooted in faith and commitment. The woman is convinced that her love is mutual and asks her beloved to answer her prayer and declare his love for her too. The song is an expression of devotion and vulnerability, and it speaks to the power of love to sustain us through all the ups and downs of life.

Overall, the lyrics of "I Say a Little Prayer" are a beautiful tribute to the enduring power of love and the importance of faith in our relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

The moment I wake up, before I put on my make up
Right after waking up and before getting ready for the day, I take a moment to pray for you

I say a little prayer for you
In that moment, I offer a small prayer for your well-being and happiness

While combing my hair now
As I style my hair for the day ahead

And wonderin' what dress to wear now
And think about what clothing to wear to look my best

Forever, forever you'll stay in my heart
You will always hold a special place within my heart

And I will love you forever and ever
My love for you will never fade or die out

We never will part and I will love you
We will always be together and I will continue to love you

Together, together that's how it must be
Being together is the only way it can be

To live without you could only mean heartbreak for me
Not having you in my life would only cause me heartbreak and pain

I run for the bus dear, while riding I think of us, dear
As I rush to catch the bus, I think about us and our relationship

And say a little prayer for you
And I offer another small prayer for your happiness and well-being during my commute

At work I just take time, and all through my coffee break time
During my workday, I make sure to set aside some time, especially during my coffee break, to think of you

Darlin' believe me, for me there is no one but you
My dear, please believe me when I say that there is no one else for me except you

Say you love me too
Please tell me that you love me as well

'cause I'm in love with you
Because I am deeply in love with you

Answer my prayer now
Please respond to my prayers and desires

Say you love me too
Tell me that you love me too

Just answer my prayer now
Please respond to my heartfelt request

Say you love me too
Tell me that you love me as well

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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