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
Late Night Radio
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Head for the city light
Yearning inside to swim with the tide
And taste it all night
Bag on her shoulder, breathing the cold
There by the metal tracks
She saw it all shine and swore in her mind
She'd never go back
She don't mind the late night, Late night radio
She don't mind the late night radio
She don't mind the late night, Late night radio
Couldn't have dreamed the things that she'd seen
There on the avenue
She stared right into a million eyes
That looked her right through
Telling red Joe, the places she'd go
And wiping the table clean
She got no idea the demon of fear
Or what a broken heart means
She don't mind the late night, Late night radio
She don't mind the late night radio
She don't mind the late night, Late night radio
Na Na Na Na Na Not at all
New York was dark
Dirty and stark
Burning with yellow wings
Everyday come with fever and hum
Who knows what it brings
Walking a wall without thought
To fall and hit the ground
Oh sweet Mary Jane with eyes like rain
Alive to the sound
She don't mind the late night, Late night radio
She don't mind the late night radio
She don't mind the late night, Late night radio
She don't mind the late night
Late night radio
She don't mind the late night radio
She don't mind the late night
Late night radio
Not at all
The song "Late Night Radio" by Mary Black tells the story of Mary Jane, a young woman who leaves her home and sets out for the city with a desire to experience life to the fullest. The lyrics describe Mary Jane's journey as she steps onto the train, heads for the city, and begins to explore everything it has to offer. She eagerly yearns to taste every bit of it all night long. As she walks through the city streets, she finds herself staring into the eyes of millions of people who seem to be looking right through her.
Despite the fear and uncertainty that she feels as she navigates through the unknown city streets, Mary Jane finds solace in the late night radio. The catchy refrain "She don't mind the late night, Late night radio" reinforces this idea that Mary Jane finds comfort in the late night radio. She uses it to drown out the noise of the city and the fear that she feels as she navigates through it.
Overall, Mary Jane's journey is both exciting and terrifying. She has no idea what tomorrow will bring, but she's willing to take the risk and experience life to the fullest. Through this song, Mary Black captures the feeling of youthful exploration and the excitement and uncertainty that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Mary Jane, she step on the train
Mary Jane boarded a train
Head for the city light
Mary Jane was headed towards the city
Yearning inside to swim with the tide
Mary Jane desires to live life to the fullest
And taste it all night
Mary Jane wants to experience everything the city has to offer
Bag on her shoulder, breathing the cold
Mary Jane was carrying a bag and feeling the cold air
There by the metal tracks
Mary Jane was near the train tracks
She saw it all shine and swore in her mind
Mary Jane felt inspired by the city and made a promise to herself
She'd never go back
Mary Jane will never return to her previous life
She don't mind the late night, Late night radio
Mary Jane enjoys listening to late night radio
Couldn't have dreamed the things that she'd seen
Mary Jane had experiences in the city that she never imagined
There on the avenue
Mary Jane was on a street
She stared right into a million eyes
Mary Jane was surrounded by people
That looked her right through
However, none of them noticed her
Telling red Joe, the places she'd go
Mary Jane talks to someone named "Red Joe" about her dreams
And wiping the table clean
Mary Jane was working at a restaurant and clearing tables
She got no idea the demon of fear
Mary Jane does not understand what it means to be afraid
Or what a broken heart means
Mary Jane has not experienced heartbreak
New York was dark
Mary Jane was in New York City at night
Dirty and stark
New York was unromantic
Burning with yellow wings
New York was alive and bright
Everyday come with fever and hum
Every day was filled with energy and noise
Who knows what it brings
Mary Jane was excited about the possibilities ahead
Walking a wall without thought
Mary Jane was taking risks without considering the consequences
To fall and hit the ground
Mary Jane was willing to take risks even if it meant failing
Oh sweet Mary Jane with eyes like rain
Mary Jane is compared to a sweet and tender soul
Alive to the sound
Mary Jane is alive and present in the moment
Not at all
Mary Jane is not at all bothered by the late night radio
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID GRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maureen Smith
on Bruach na Carraige Baine
So beautiful!