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
St. Kilda Again
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tied up in brown paper wrapping and string
You stepped back through time
Like the time that you stepped through
Meant nothing at all
A little bit weary and world worn and eager
For taking some more
And we leaned on each other like brothers
Chorus
We took no routine stance
We were living' our lives by chance
Robbing Peter for Paul
Losing it all
Maybe I'll find you one Saturday night
In St. Kilda again
We were wrong the world didn't end
Between there and here
Thought it's still looking shaky and worn
Did you give up your dreaming
Believing time finds a price for us all
But time is an enemy, patient and clever
And way beyond our control
When you run out of time
It's funny but money can't talk at all
Chorus
When the world turned rough
And betrayed your trust
And they left you out in the cold
In the deafening silence
A man is an island
When he's out on his own
A little bit weary and world worn
Not eager for talking anymore
Hey brother what happened
To standing and fighting
With our backs to the wall
Chorus
In "St. Kilda Again," Mary Black sings about the camaraderie and solidarity that comes with shared experiences, particularly those of a tumultuous nature. The song's protagonist is reflecting on a time spent with a friend who possesses "famous philosophies" that are "tied up in brown paper wrapping," suggesting that these ideas are not ostentatious or showy, but are rather grounded and practical. The two have been through a lot together, and the singer notes that they "leaned on each other like brothers" and "fought with our backs to the wall." This suggests that their relationship was forged under difficult circumstances, and that they relied on each other to persevere.
The chorus of the song touches on the idea of living life by chance rather than by planned routine. The idea of "robbing Peter for Paul" suggests a kind of improvisational approach to life, taking what opportunities present themselves rather than adhering to a predetermined path. The singer wonders if they will ever see their friend again, imagining a chance reunion "on a Saturday night in St. Kilda again." The song's bridge reflects on the passage of time and the challenges that come with it. The singer notes that though the world may seem shaky and worn at times, time itself is "patient and clever" and ultimately beyond our control. The lyrics touch on themes of resilience, brotherhood, and the importance of living life authentically and in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
With your famous philosophies
You entered this time with a reputation for wise thinking.
Tied up in brown paper wrapping and string
Your ideas were not displayed grandly, but were simple and unassuming.
You stepped back through time
You went back to a different era.
Like the time that you stepped through
The transition was seamless.
Meant nothing at all
The change was not important to you.
A little bit weary and world worn and eager
You were tired from living life, but also excited for more.
For taking some more
You were ready to experience new things.
And we leaned on each other like brothers
We supported each other strongly, like family.
And fought with our backs to the wall
We faced challenges bravely, defending ourselves from opposition.
We took no routine stance
We did not follow a predictable path.
We were living' our lives by chance
Our lives were shaped by fate, beyond our control.
Robbing Peter for Paul
We engaged in risky behavior by sacrificing one thing for another.
Losing it all
We had nothing to lose, and risked everything.
Maybe I'll find you one Saturday night
I may see you again in the future.
In St. Kilda again
In the same place where we met, symbolizing a connection to the past.
We were wrong the world didn't end
Our fears and worries did not come to fruition.
Between there and here
During the transition from then to now.
Thought it's still looking shaky and worn
Although things are unsure and uncertain, they are still functional.
Did you give up your dreaming
Did you abandon your hopes and aspirations?
Believing time finds a price for us all
We all pay a cost as time passes, whether good or bad.
But time is an enemy, patient and clever
Time can be a difficult and cunning opponent.
And way beyond our control
We cannot manipulate time to our advantage.
When you run out of time
When you reach the end of your lifespan.
It's funny but money can't talk at all
Wealth is not a means of communication, and holds little value in the end.
When the world turned rough
When things became difficult and chaotic.
And betrayed your trust
When others let you down and broke your faith in them.
And they left you out in the cold
When you were left alone and unsupported.
In the deafening silence
In a complete absence of noise or support.
A man is an island
A person must rely solely on themselves in times of trouble.
When he's out on his own
When there is no one to help or support him.
Not eager for talking anymore
Not willing to share or discuss one's feelings or experiences.
Hey brother what happened
An inquiry into what went wrong, often in a familial or friendly tone.
To standing and fighting
To taking a strong and unyielding stance in the face of adversity.
Contributed by Aiden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maureen Smith
on Bruach na Carraige Baine
So beautiful!