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
Once in a Very Blue Moon
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were just checking if I was okay
And if I miss you, well you know what they say
Just once in a very blue moon
Just once in a very blue moon
Just once in a very blue moon
And I feel one coming on soon
And help me right back on my feet again
And if I miss you, well just now and then
Just once in a very blue moon
Just once in a very blue moon
Just once in a very blue moon
And I feel one coming on soon
There's a blue moon shining
When I am reminded of all we've been through
Such a blue moon shining
Does it ever shine down on you?
You act as if it doesn't hurt you at all
Like I'm the only one who's getting up from a fall
Don't you remember now don't you recall
Just once in a very blue moon
Just once in a very blue moon
Just once in a very blue moon
And I feel one coming on soon
Just once in a very blue moon
Mary Black's "Once in a Very Blue Moon" is a song about the aftermath of a breakup. The opening lines reveal that the singer has just received a letter from her former partner, checking in on her wellbeing. The nostalgia is palpable; even though the relationship has ended, that glimmer of hope is still present. However, the broader theme of the song is the unpredictable nature of pain and longing. The lyrics suggest that emotions can lie dormant for a long time and rear their head unexpectedly. The idea of a "blue moon" is used as a metaphor for a sudden and intense longing. While the singer acknowledges that this feeling is infrequent, she knows that it will return eventually.
The chorus of "Once in a Very Blue Moon" reinforces this point, with the repetition of the phrase "just once in a very blue moon." The lyrics oscillate between past and present pain, and between distance and closeness with the ex. The final lines of the song suggest that while the other person may have moved on, the singer has not. The question remains as to whether her ex-lover feels the same intense longing and regret as she does when facing the moonlight.
Line by Line Meaning
I found your letter in my mailbox today
I received your letter today.
You were just checking if I was okay
You checked up on me to make sure I'm alright.
And if I miss you, well you know what they say
I don't say I miss you often, but when I do, you know it's true.
Just once in a very blue moon
It's rare that I miss you.
And I feel one coming on soon
But I have a feeling I'll miss you soon.
No need to ask me if we can be friends
You don't have to ask me if we can be friends.
And help me right back on my feet again
You'll help me get back on my feet if I need it.
And if I miss you, well just now and then
And if I occasionally miss you.
There's a blue moon shining
When I think about our past together.
When I am reminded of all we've been through
I am reminded of all the memories we have shared.
Such a blue moon shining
It's a beautiful and rare occasion for me to think about us.
Does it ever shine down on you?
Do you ever think about us the way I do?
You act as if it doesn't hurt you at all
You seem unbothered and unaffected by our separation.
Like I'm the only one who's getting up from a fall
It feels like I'm the only one hurting from our breakup.
Don't you remember now don't you recall
Do you remember anything about our past?
Just once in a very blue moon
It's rare that I talk about our past.
And I feel one coming on soon
But I feel like talking about it soon.
Just once in a very blue moon
It's rare for me to say these things.
Just once in a very blue moon
But sometimes I feel like I need to say them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EUGENE ALBERT LEVINE, PATRICK ALGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maureen Smith
on Bruach na Carraige Baine
So beautiful!