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
Strange Thing
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once in a while I can smile that old smile
And I know I'm in trouble again
Even though you get older that old tap on the shoulder
Will turn you again and again
Chorus
That's what the strange bit's always been
Ii
O give me the time and the sweet taste of wine
And I'll tell you that story again
Of the look in his eye long before all the lies
And the parting began to begin
Chorus
Iii
Strange thing this ol' love business
Strange thing this ol' love
Strange thing this love business
Look what love has done to us
Iv
O the making you cry and the saying good-bye
And the whole damn thing is insane
Even though you get older that old tap on the shoulder
Will turn you again and again
Chorus & repeat iii
Mary Black's "Strange Thing" is a bitter-sweet reflection on love and its paradoxical nature. The song talks about how even after a long time, the memories of love continue to haunt the person, and they keep getting drawn towards the same old feelings again and again. The first verse portrays the singer's realization that even though they think they have moved on, the slightest trigger is enough to bring back the nostalgia and trouble them once again. The song talks about how the singer has never been able to control these feelings, and they have remained a "strange bit," never quite understood.
The second verse talks about how the singer would like to go back in time and relive the sweet moments of love once again. They describe how the memories of the look in their lover's eyes remain etched in their mind, despite the lies and the eventual parting. The chorus emphasizes on how the singer has never been able to change the nature of their love, which has always been a "strange bit."
The third verse emphasizes on the paradoxical nature of love and how it can both uplift and destroy a person. The chorus repeats, highlighting the fact that love is indeed a strange thing, which never quite turns out as one expects. The final verse talks about how the pain and heartbreak that comes with love is insane, but even after all this time, the mere thought of it is enough to turn one again and again.
Line by Line Meaning
Once in a while I can smile that old smile
Every once in a while, I am reminded of a happier time and I put on a smile to hide my current troubles.
And I know I'm in trouble again
Whenever I get that feeling of nostalgia or happiness, I know it's just a temporary relief from my problems.
Even though you get older that old tap on the shoulder
As you age, you might think you've outgrown certain issues, but they always come back to remind you of their presence.
Will turn you again and again
Those same issues will keep resurfacing and causing trouble in your life.
I couldn't change it, I've never arranged it
I have come to accept that certain things in life are beyond my control and I can't change them or make them go away.
That's what the strange bit's always been
This acceptance of the uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of life is what makes it all seem so strange and confusing.
O give me the time and the sweet taste of wine
If I have some time to relax and a good glass of wine to enjoy, I might feel more inclined to tell you about my past experiences and feelings.
And I'll tell you that story again
I have shared this story before, but it's something that still stays with me and I need to talk about it again.
Of the look in his eye long before all the lies
I remember a time when things were good between us, and he looked at me with honesty and love before things went wrong.
And the parting began to begin
That moment was the beginning of the end of our relationship, even though we didn't realize it at the time.
Strange thing this ol' love business
Love is a strange and complicated emotion that can bring both joy and pain, and it's hard to understand or explain.
Strange thing this ol' love
Love has been around for ages and yet we still struggle with it and the way it affects us.
Strange thing this love business
The complex and unpredictable nature of love is something that continues to fascinate and baffle us.
Look what love has done to us
Despite all the emotional turmoil caused by love, we still keep seeking it out and getting caught up in its web.
O the making you cry and the saying good-bye
Breaking up with someone is never easy and it often leads to a lot of sadness and tears.
And the whole damn thing is insane
Overall, love can feel overwhelming and crazy with all its ups and downs, and the way it can consume us completely.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY MACCARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maureen Smith
on Bruach na Carraige Baine
So beautiful!