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
Treasure Island
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's almost always out of your way
It's not the path of least resistance
It's not some words you get to say
It's a stream running up a mountain
It's a wave rolling out from the shore
Wish I could say I never felt that way before
I have a friend who's lonely
She is chasing after her dreams
And she is the one and only
One who knows how hard it could be
There's a treasure on her island buried in the city of news
Wish I could say we didn't have that much to lose
One friend tried to end it
He could not see the good in his life
In his mirror or his pocket
And his hopes had come down like a knife
It's a stream running up a mountain
It's a wave rolling out from the shore
Wish I could say I never felt that way before
There's a treasure on these islands buried in the city of news
Wish I could say we didn't have that much to lose
Oh there's a treasure on these islands buried in the city of news
Wish I could say we didn't have that much to lose
The lyrics of Mary Black's "Treasure Island" convey a message about love and the difficulties that come with it. The opening lines state that love is not easy and is often a path that requires navigating obstacles. It is not just about saying the right words but about taking a difficult and often challenging path. The song outlines how love is like a stream running uphill or a wave rolling to the shore; it can be difficult and requires stamina.
The second verse tells the story of a friend who is lonely and pursuing her dreams. This particular friend is unique, as she is the only one who knows how difficult life can be when you are chasing your dreams. Even though there may be hardships along the way, there is always a treasure waiting for us. The treasure in this case is something to be desired and worth the effort that has been put into finding it.
The third verse tells the story of a friend who wanted to end his life. He could not see any good in his life and was hopeless. It is a reminder that we should not lose hope even in the darkest of times. The lyrics continue with the stream and wave metaphor, reminding us that we need to be strong to overcome the difficult times in life.
Overall, Mary Black's "Treasure Island" is a reminder that love and life are not always easy. It requires a journey, like finding a hidden treasure. But, there is always beauty and a reward waiting for us if we persevere.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh love is never easy
Love is not a simple or straightforward journey
It's almost always out of your way
Love often presents obstacles or challenges
It's not the path of least resistance
Love requires effort and perseverance
It's not some words you get to say
Love isn't simply expressed through words, but also through actions
It's a stream running up a mountain
Love can be challenging and difficult to attain, like a stream flowing uphill
It's a wave rolling out from the shore
Love can be unpredictable and can come and go like the tide
Wish I could say I never felt that way before
The singer has experienced the challenges and unpredictability of love before
I have a friend who's lonely
The artist knows someone who is experiencing loneliness
She is chasing after her dreams
The friend is pursuing her goals and aspirations
And she is the one and only
The friend is unique and irreplaceable
One who knows how hard it could be
The friend understands the difficulties of pursuing one's dreams
There's a treasure on her island buried in the city of news
The friend has something valuable and meaningful in her life, despite living in a busy city
Wish I could say we didn't have that much to lose
The singer acknowledges that there are risks and potential losses involved in pursuing what we treasure
One friend tried to end it
The singer knows someone who attempted suicide
He could not see the good in his life
The friend was unable to recognize positive aspects of his life
In his mirror or his pocket
The friend didn't find comfort or reassurance in his own reflection or possessions
And his hopes had come down like a knife
The friend's aspirations and expectations were suddenly and painfully shattered
There's a treasure on these islands buried in the city of news
There are valuable things and people in our lives, even in busy cities
Wish I could say we didn't have that much to lose
There are always risks and potential losses involved in pursuing what we treasure
Oh there's a treasure on these islands buried in the city of news
Reiterating that valuable things and people exist even in busy cities
Wish I could say we didn't have that much to lose
Reiterating that there are always risks and potential losses when pursuing what we treasure
Lyrics © FRANAM PUB ADMINISTRATION
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maureen Smith
on Bruach na Carraige Baine
So beautiful!