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
Japanese Deluxe
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My loved one looking fine
This is how it should be
All of the time
Dry berth by the ocean
Hey, this is real good
Maybe we can stay together
In Japanese Deluxe
I noticed the leaves this morning
It made me stop to think
So caught up in the days was I
Days without a link
I bow down to the totems
I bow down to look up
Just 'cause I want to stay together
In Japanese Deluxe
Just 'cause I want to stay together
In this boat they call Deluxe
But lately it seems we've both been thinking
That it's time for us to part
But who knows, if we hang on
We might, we might make a second start
The bogeyman is out there someplace
Making people scared
He's going to call on us, too
Unless we have a care
It takes more than devotion
It takes more than good luck
It takes a lot to stay together
On Japanese Deluxe
A lot more than devotion
A lot more than good looks
That's if we want to stay together
In Japanese Deluxe
I hope we get to stay together
In this boat they call Deluxe
The song "Japanese Deluxe" by Mary Black talks about the desire to keep a relationship alive and thoughts on how to make it work. The opening verse refers to the peaceful and serene atmosphere where the loved one is present, giving an image of perfection. The phrase "Pacific looking blue" indicates a calm ocean, which can be symbolic of the relationship. The singer then talks about a dry berth by the ocean, which suggests the idea of being grounded and safe while being together. The phrase "Maybe we can stay together in Japanese Deluxe" holds a sense of hope and desire for the relationship.
The second verse refers to the singer’s realization of being caught up in daily life, without taking a break to appreciate nature. The phrase "I bow down to the totems" might indicate that the singer is paying homage to the natural surroundings. The singer wants to stay together in the Japanese Deluxe, which can be symbolic of the things that make them happy and give them peace.
The third verse speaks about possible doubts and thoughts of ending the relationship. However, the singer still hopes for a second start. The bogeyman mentioned in the song refers to the fears that plague people's minds when in a relationship. The singer believes that dedication and good fortune are not enough to keep the relationship together, as it takes constant effort and diligence.
In conclusion, "Japanese Deluxe" is a song filled with emotions, hope, and doubts about a relationship. However, it talks about the importance of perseverance and hard work to keep the relationship alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Pacific looking blue
The Pacific Ocean is a beautiful shade of blue.
My loved one looking fine
My partner looks attractive today.
This is how it should be
Our relationship should always be happy and content like this.
All of the time
Forever and always.
Dry berth by the ocean
We are safely docked by the ocean.
Hey, this is real good
This is a great moment.
Maybe we can stay together
Perhaps we can continue our relationship.
In Japanese Deluxe
In a luxurious boat named Japanese Deluxe.
I noticed the leaves this morning
This morning I was struck by the beauty of the leaves.
It made me stop to think
I took a moment to reflect.
So caught up in the days was I
I had been so preoccupied with daily life.
Days without a link
Days without a meaningful connection.
I bow down to the totems
I show respect to the cultural symbols around me.
I bow down to look up
I humble myself in order to see things more clearly.
Just 'cause I want to stay together
I want to maintain our relationship.
In Japanese Deluxe
On board the luxurious boat Japanese Deluxe.
But lately it seems we've both been thinking
Recently, we have both been considering the possibility of ending the relationship.
That it's time for us to part
We believe it may be best to break up.
But who knows, if we hang on
If we stick together, anything can happen.
We might, we might make a second start
We have the potential to repair our relationship.
The bogeyman is out there someplace
There are scary things in the world that can harm us.
Making people scared
Causing fear in those affected.
He's going to call on us, too
The scary thing could happen to us as well.
Unless we have a care
Unless we are careful and protect ourselves.
It takes more than devotion
Relationships require more than just love and devotion.
It takes more than good luck
Luck alone cannot sustain a relationship.
It takes a lot to stay together
Maintaining a relationship is a significant effort.
On Japanese Deluxe
On board the luxurious boat Japanese Deluxe.
A lot more than devotion
Maintaining a relationship requires much more than just love and devotion.
A lot more than good looks
Physical attractiveness does not sustain a relationship.
That's if we want to stay together
Continuing our relationship requires a significant effort from both of us.
I hope we get to stay together
I hope we can stay together and continue our relationship.
In this boat they call Deluxe
On board the luxurious boat called Deluxe.
Contributed by Brooklyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maureen Smith
on Bruach na Carraige Baine
So beautiful!