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
Wonder Child
Mary Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is no more enchanted
A child can take this place of ruin
And magically enhance it
I see him in a golden room
With the book of life before him
Strange instruments upon his charts
And the crystal glow inside him
And my dreams come true
You've searched all your life
I see him now flying over the universe
This child will build a violin
One will follow the traveler's love
Another will the bow apply
To reach the one above
I see her in a golden room
With the moon and stars above her
Her simple smile is Heaven's gate
She's your Wonder Child
And my dreams come true
You've searched all your life
I see her now flying over the universe
Your Wonder Child
And my dreams come true
You've searched all your life
I see them now flying over the universe
The song Wonder Child by Mary Black talks about the transformative power of a child in the world, particularly in the lives of adults. The first lines set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer expresses the immense value the child brings into their life, saying "This child he means the world to me / There is no more enchanted." The child is not only valuable, but magical in their ability to transform what is bleak and broken into something beautiful: "A child can take this place of ruin / And magically enhance it."
The singer goes on to describe their vision of the child in a "golden room" with the "book of life before him" and "strange instruments upon his charts" and a "crystal glow inside him." The child is imagined as a wonder child, capable of creating something as intricate and beautiful as a violin, capable of reaching the divine through music. The child is not only a creator, but a traveler, flying over the universe with endless possibility at their feet.
In the second half of the song, the singer imagines another wonder child, this time a girl. She is also in a "golden room," but this time with the "moon and stars above her." Her smile is like "Heaven's gate," and she too can fly over the universe. The two wonder children seem to represent the potential and possibility inherent in every child, and the way they can enrich and transform the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
This child he means the world to me
The child is extremely important to me and holds immense value in my life
There is no more enchanted
Nothing else can compare to the magic and wonder this child brings
A child can take this place of ruin
Even in a place of destruction and despair, a child can bring hope and rejuvenation
And magically enhance it
The child can improve and elevate the state of things in a miraculous way
I see him in a golden room
I imagine the child in a beautiful, ethereal setting
With the book of life before him
The child is surrounded by knowledge and potential
Strange instruments upon his charts
The child is experimenting and exploring with unfamiliar tools and methods
And the crystal glow inside him
The child possesses a radiant and pure energy within themselves
He's your Wonder Child
This child is a source of awe and inspiration for you
And my dreams come true
The existence of this child fulfills your deepest desires and wishes
You've searched all your life
You have been seeking something for a long time, and this child has provided it for you
I see him now flying over the universe
I envision the child soaring through space and time, with endless possibilities ahead
This child will build a violin
The child has a talent and passion for creating music
One will follow the traveler's love
Their music will be inspired by the experiences and journeys of others
Another will the bow apply
They will use their creativity and skill to bring forth emotion and beauty
To reach the one above
Their music will have a spiritual and transcendent quality
I see her in a golden room
I imagine another child, this time in a heavenly setting
With the moon and stars above her
The child is surrounded by celestial beauty and wonder
Her simple smile is Heaven's gate
The child's innocence and joy opens up a gateway to divine happiness
She's your Wonder Child
This child is a source of awe and inspiration for you
Your Wonder Child
This child is a source of awe and inspiration for you
I see them now flying over the universe
Both children are now soaring through time and space, with boundless potential and promise
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JIMMY MCCARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mary Loves dogs
This child he means the world to me, There is no more enchanted
A child can take this place of ruin, And magically enhance it.
I see him in a golden room, With the book of life before him
Strange instruments upon his charts, And the crystal glow inside him.
He's your Wonder Child, And my dreams come true
You've searched all your life, I see him now flying over the universe.
This child will build a violin, One will follow the traveller's love
Another will the bow apply, To reach the one above.
I see her in a golden room, With the moon and stars above her
Her simple smile is Heaven's gate, With the Queen of all beside her.
She's your Wonder Child, And my dreams come true
You've searched all your life, I see her now flying over the universe.
Your Wonder Child, And my dreams come true
You've searched all your life, I see them now flying over the universe.
Angelique Burrill
This song was played at my baby nephew`s funeral and for a long time after I couldn`t listen to it as it broke my heart. But now when I listen to it, it just gives me shivers. Such a beautiful song. Love you Ben xxx
niamhirl
My Dad sung it at my son's naming ceremony, I had never heard it before. My son stopped breathing at 2 days old was extremely unwell and spent a month in NICU. It makes me cry everytime I listen to it. We were so blessed that he pulled through, age 8 now. Sorry for you loss, can totally understand why it would have hurt to listen to it.
mejunestv
A fabulous song from one of Ireland finest ever female singers. who doesn't love Mary Black?
Candyflossluva1
I heard this song some time ago and claimed it as mine and my son Eamon's song, who I lost at only one month old to leukaemia and shared it with my dear friends Jill and Gill who lost their daughters, Olivia to cancer and Abbie to a struggle of many different health problems. I have not taken on board the true meaning of the words, as i have decided they fit to our darlings beautifully. Thank you Mary . God bless you x
Joan Lawrence-Studebaker
What a loving lovely song.For all the Wonder Children we know...
George H
Mary Black is a very exceptional singer and a great asset to Ireland. I humbly suggest to her music lovers in Ireland to join together and initiate a campaign to name her A National Treasure.
Philip HENRY
All these songs are as beautiful as each other, but Mary’s voice is beautiful on all of them.
Gerard Murphy
Beautiful song,always reminds me of my brother David,miss him so much,rip buddy
Kaz T
I used to listen to this song when my boy was small. This week I listened to it for the first time in years. He died this week. I love you Aiden. My son. My life. Fly high my sweet in those blue skies. Mum xxxx
Laurie Parent
Mo chori (my heart). I'm so sorry for the loss of your boy.....