Mary Black (born 23 May 1955 in Dublin) is an Irish singer. She is well kno… Read Full Bio ↴Mary Black (born 23 May 1955 in Dublin) is an Irish singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both folk and contemporary material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland and in many other parts of the world. She was named "Best Female Artist" in the IRMA poll in 1987, 1988, 1992, 1994 and 1996.

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

Vanities
Mary Black Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Look at it closely
Counterfeit mostly
Yesterdays's brushwork
Using yesterdays' paint
And everything that I believe
And every note that you receive
They're just vanities to you

Hear that liverpool wind as I'm making my way
For the very last time
Is this a resurrection?
And do you really care?
I can't relish no kiss 'til I happen to hear
Your honeycomb nouns
Let you down so often
I'll do the same again

Look at it closely
Counterfeit mostly
Yesterday's stories
It's the same all over the world
And everything that I believe
And every note that you receive
They're just vanities to you

Busy little bodies have a story to tell
Even if it goes against the grain
Tiny little seeds have got an ocean to swell
But who am I to rock the boat

And everything that I believe
And every note that you receive

Look at it closely
Counterfeit mostly
Yesterday's brushwork
Using yesterday's pain
Look at it closely
Counterfeit mostly

Yesterday's stories
It's the same all over the world

Overall Meaning

The song "Vanities" by Mary Black explores themes of deception, doubt, and the impermanence of truth. The first verse reflects the idea that the law, which represents authority and power in society, is not always effective in controlling people's actions. The singer seems to imply that even if laws are not enforced, people have innate tendencies to help each other. The singer also recognizes how truth can be distorted and altered depending on who tells the story. The second verse describes a visit to Liverpool, where the singer contemplates whether she is experiencing a rebirth of some kind. The uncertainty of the singer's feelings is mirrored in the doubts about whether the audience will understand or care about the message in the song. The chorus highlights the transience of perceived truths- what one person perceives as real or important might be meaningless or unimportant to others.

The singer uses vivid imagery to paint the picture of confusion, deception and changing perceptions, where people's opinions are often based on yesterday's ideas and thus are counterfeit today. The strong use of metaphors and imagery are meant to illustrate the futile search for meaning and understanding that often go unrequited in life. The song is an exploration of the human experience and a call for listeners to examine their own lives more closely- to recognize that all that they believe and trust might be vain and fleeting.

Line by Line Meaning

Big bad man's law doesn't carry much sway When you come around here You can still scratch my back And I can still change sides Don't carry no torch 'til you have it in type That I'm doing okay It's only one man's outlook It could be one more lie
The singer questions the authority of powerful people and acknowledges that they are still willing to cooperate with them. They request proof that they are doing alright, but know that any affirmation could still be a falsehood.

Look at it closely Counterfeit mostly Yesterdays's brushwork Using yesterdays' paint And everything that I believe And every note that you receive They're just vanities to you
The singer recognizes that people often make false claims and promote stories that feed their egos. They believe that their own beliefs and messages are not being taken seriously by others, who view them as superficial vanities.

Hear that Liverpool wind as I'm making my way For the very last time Is this a resurrection? And do you really care? I can't relish no kiss 'til I happen to hear Your honeycomb nouns Let you down so often I'll do the same again
The singer ponders their future and whether others actually care about their well-being. They note that they cannot fully embrace their relationships until they are sure that their partners will not let them down. They are resigned to the idea that they will continue to make the same mistakes.

Busy little bodies have a story to tell Even if it goes against the grain Tiny little seeds have got an ocean to swell But who am I to rock the boat
The artist acknowledges that everyone has their own perspective and unique stories to share, even if they are not conventional. They recognize that even small actions can lead to significant results. However, they do not want to cause any controversy or upset the status quo.

Look at it closely Counterfeit mostly Yesterday's brushwork Using yesterday's pain Look at it closely Counterfeit mostly Yesterday's stories It's the same all over the world
The artist reiterates their earlier point that most messages and beliefs are false or exaggerated. They stress that this is a common occurrence across the world, where people often cling to outdated ideas and repeat past mistakes.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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