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

In a Dream
Mary Black Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Something about this is precious, something about this is sad
Something about this is better, than I've ever had
Hard and lean, you know what I mean?
How do the roots become tangled? why does the spirit grow tired?
Where is the key to your kingdom? yes that's my desire.

Chorus:

There are those who live to count the cost
And then those who count themselves content
I see heaven wrapped up in a box
It is you come back to love again, in a dream, this living dream.

Up in a heap I'm not bothered, down in the dumps I'm okay
Here in my heart you're the best road, that I'll ever take, I'm serene yeh.

Chorus:

There are those who live to take the chance
And then more who find themselves content
I see heaven mapped out in advance
It is you and that's my journeys end, in a dream, this living dream.

I'm trying to hang on to the essence, I'm feeling more faint by the day
It took such a long time to get it, I don't want to see it erased

Chorus:

There are those who live to count the cost
And then more who count themselves content
I see heaven wrapped up in a box

It is you come back to love again, in a dream, this living dream
This living dream.

Overall Meaning

Mary Black's song "In a Dream" is about the bittersweet nature of love. Her words capture the complex emotions associated with falling in love: the joyous highs, the deep lows, and the longing for a deeper connection. The opening lyrics set the tone of the song, with Black singing, "Something about this is precious, something about this is sad. Something about this is better, than I've ever had." She's hinting at the fact that love isn't always easy, but it has a way of making life more meaningful.

In the second verse, Black gets more contemplative, asking questions like, "How do the roots become tangled? Why does the spirit grow tired? Where is the key to your kingdom?" She's expressing the confusion that can arise when trying to navigate the complexities of a relationship, which can feel like a kingdom that's difficult to unlock.

The chorus takes a slightly more optimistic turn, with Black suggesting that love is worth the struggle. She sings, "There are those who live to count the cost, and then those who count themselves content. I see heaven wrapped up in a box, it is you come back to love again, in a dream, this living dream." The image of heaven wrapped up in a box suggests that love is a precious gift, and Black sees it as something worth pursuing, even if it doesn't always come easily.

Overall, "In a Dream" is a beautiful, thoughtful meditation on the complexities of love. Black's lyrics capture the highs and lows of a relationship, while giving voice to the sense of wonder and awe that love can inspire.

Line by Line Meaning

Something about this is precious, something about this is sad
There is something about this situation that is both valuable and heartbreaking.

Something about this is better, than I've ever had
This situation is an improvement over anything I've experienced before.

Hard and lean, you know what I mean?
This situation is difficult and uncompromising, and the listener is asked if they understand.

How do the roots become tangled? why does the spirit grow tired?
The artist is pondering the complexities of life and why it can be so exhausting.

Where is the key to your kingdom? yes that's my desire.
The artist is searching for a way to access their own personal happiness and fulfillment.

There are those who live to count the cost And then those who count themselves content I see heaven wrapped up in a box It is you come back to love again, in a dream, this living dream.
The singer is observing that some people are preoccupied with money and material possessions, while others find happiness in simple things. The singer recognizes that their joy and contentment comes from the love they share with someone else.

Up in a heap I'm not bothered, down in the dumps I'm okay Here in my heart you're the best road, that I'll ever take, I'm serene yeh.
The singer is saying that they are unflappable in difficult circumstances, and that the love they feel towards someone else is the most important thing in their life. They feel peaceful and content.

There are those who live to take the chance And then more who find themselves content I see heaven mapped out in advance It is you and that's my journeys end, in a dream, this living dream.
The artist observes that some people are risk takers, while others are happy with the status quo. They see their own happiness as predestined, and their journey in life as coming to an end with the person they love.

I'm trying to hang on to the essence, I'm feeling more faint by the day It took such a long time to get it, I don't want to see it erased
The artist is struggling to hold onto something important to them, and is worried they are losing it over time. They worked hard to attain it, and don't want it to disappear.

There are those who live to count the cost And then those who count themselves content I see heaven wrapped up in a box It is you come back to love again, in a dream, this living dream This living dream.
The chorus is repeated as a reminder that some people prioritize worldly possessions while others value love and connection. The artist sees their own happiness as wrapped up in the love they share with someone else. The last line emphasizes that this reality is not just a dream, but a living, breathing experience.

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