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
The Loving Time
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Young man in his prime, young girl from the cross
The most perfect of strangers, and then the night closed in
And the holy ground took care of everything
Now she was a fine one, and he was a handsome man
One look was enough, and away they ran
They spent many happy hours and then the night closed in
Oh what's the use in complaining?
In for a penny, in for a pound
I remember the loving time
And nothing else really counts
And I recall the promise they made
With a faith I can but admire
That she'd be the one he adored
And he'd be her heart's desire
It didn't come true in the end, they went their separate ways
He couldn't change what he was, she wasn't ready to wait
They couldn't live in the daylight, they let the night close in
And the holy ground took care of everything
They couldn't live in the daylight, they let the night close in
And the holy ground took care of everything
They couldn't live in the daylight, they let the night close in
And the holy ground took care of everything
I remember the loving time
And nothing else really counts
Mary Black’s song “The Loving Time” is a bittersweet story of young love, told in a way that captures the fairytale-like quality of its beginnings but also its inevitable end. The two lovers in the song, a young man and a young girl, meet as strangers and, quickly enchanted with one another, run away together. They spend many happy hours together, but, as night closes in, they realize in a moment of clarity that they cannot live in the world of daylight. It’s after this moment of realization that the “holy ground took care of everything.” While the lovers’ decision to let the night close in is left open to interpretation, the lyrics suggest that their love was intense but ultimately unsustainable.
The song emphasizes the fleetingness of the emotions that the two young people share, but it also conjures up a sense of nostalgia for a time when such intense emotions were possible. The line “What’s the use in complaining? In for a penny, in for a pound” suggests that the characters in the song knew what they were getting themselves into and that they embraced it wholeheartedly, despite the inevitable heartache that came with it. The song is, in a sense, an elegy for the hope and excitement of youth, a reminder that we can’t go back to that time but that we can still cherish our memories of it.
Line by Line Meaning
It reads like a fairytale, and that's what it was
The story being told happened to be like a fairy tale, filled with wonder and romance.
Young man in his prime, young girl from the cross
The two individuals in the story are a young man at his peak and a young girl who lives across from him.
The most perfect strangers, and then the night closed in
Despite not knowing each other, they were instantly smitten and then nighttime arrived.
And the holy ground took care of everything
Their love was so pure that it was as if they were being taken care of by a holy force.
Now she was a fine one, and he was a handsome man
Both individuals were great-looking and attracted to each other.
One look was enough, and away they ran
Their first glance was enough to send them running to each other's arms.
Oh what's the use in complaining?
There is no point in feeling bitter or resentful about what happened.
In for a penny, in for a pound
Once they were invested, they were all in and nothing could stop them.
I remember the loving time
Despite the troubles that came afterward, the memory of their love remained.
And nothing else really counts
Everything else paled in comparison to the love they once shared.
And I recall the promise they made
There was a commitment made between them.
With a faith I can but admire
The faith they had in each other was something inspiring.
That she'd be the one he adored
He promised to love her unconditionally and put her first.
And he'd be her heart's desire
She promised to love him and make him happy in every way possible.
It didn't come true in the end, they went their separate ways
Their love eventually fell apart and they went their separate paths.
He couldn't change what he was, she wasn't ready to wait
He couldn't change who he was, and she wasn't willing to wait for him to do so.
They couldn't live in the daylight, they let the night close in
They couldn't exist in the light of day and preferred to stay in the dark.
And the holy ground took care of everything
Even though their love ended, the holy force that once took care of them was still present.
They couldn't live in the daylight, they let the night close in
Once again, their preference for darkness is highlighted.
And the holy ground took care of everything
Despite the tragedy of their failed love, there was still something keeping them safe from harm.
They couldn't live in the daylight, they let the night close in
The refrain is repeated to emphasize the couple's common trait of living in the darkness.
And the holy ground took care of everything
The holy force continues to protect them, even if their love has come to a close.
I remember the loving time
The song concludes with the repetition of the chorus, reflecting on the beauty of the love they once shared.
And nothing else really counts
The memory of their love is the only thing that matters in the end.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mark Hewerdine, Rosalie Deighton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MVMullins
Two of the truest female vocalists that ever were.
@tomp8094
What an amazing duet by two incredibly talented artists. Is there any woman who has aged as gracefully as Emmylou Harris? She is even more beautiful now.
@reneschuler47
Embora a simplicidade, música e interpretação fantásticas. Quase 30 anos dessa apresentação e continua perfeita. 👏👏👏💯
@ralphh.2200
Perfection...these poets remind us of our lives as if they had been watching from a doorway...
@geoffteece3230
Sublime. Beautiful song by Noel Brazil . One of Mary’s greatest .
@randybailin4902
Mary has about as beautiful a voice as I've ever heard.
@delorisnathe9385
Such a beautiful song. Beautiful voice Mary.
@rainieresguerra5013
Mary Black and Emmylou Harris both gave us wonderful music.
@darcitarascio4343
Thank you Emmylou you've helped me discover Mary Black!
@mariopinopiana6887
Due voci cariche di armonia meravigliosa Mary ti incanta come pure i violini che sostengono questa dolce atmosfera.♥️🌷🌈