The album also features a duet with actor/singer Patrick Wilson of “Do You Hear What I Hear,” as well as holiday songs by renowned singers and songwriters including Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” Louis Armstrong’s “Cool Yule,” Patty Griffin’s “Oh Heavenly Day” and William Bell’s “Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday.”
Mary burst onto the U.S. touring circuit from Brooklyn, NY with her fiery blend of blues, rock and soul with her debut CD, "Everything Seemed Alright," produced by legendary roots rock producer Lou Whitney. Described by The Nashville Scene as "steeped in vim, smarts and compassion" and by the Austin American Statesman as "a rollicking debut album," her debut immediately drew the attention of Grammy award winner Delbert McClinton, who asked her to join his tour.
Mary's second release, "By Any Other Name," featuring co-writes with Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites) and Steve Wynn (the Dream Syndicate) brought her more critical acclaim. Harp Magazine called her sophomore effort "a masterpiece, impeccable in every crevice," and John Swenson, editor of the Rolling Stone Guide to Jazz and Blues, described the album as a "force of nature."
Mary has performed hundreds live shows in the US and Europe, including shows with Blondie, the Indigo Girls, the B52s, Cyndi Lauper, Koko Taylor, Tony Joe White, Delbert McClinton, Maria Muldaur, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the late greats Koko Taylor and Clarence Gatemouth Brown. The Washington Post named her show at the Iota one of the best live shows of the year.
Mary received significant acclaim for her on-screen performance of "No One's Gonna Love You like Me" in the Academy-award winning film "Brokeback Mountain". The song is included on the soundtrack along with tracks from Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Rufus Wainwright, Steve Earle and others.
Her songs have also been featured on episodes of The L Word and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Her track "Would it Kill You?" was recorded by the Yayhoos for their release "Put Your Hammer Down," and her song "If I Could" was recorded by Crookston for their debut release in 2007.
Mary is currently finishing her new band cd, which will be released in early 2010.
No Time
Mary McBride Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The weight of the crowd's pushing you down
Need every bit of strength to get through the day
Can't deal with me anymore anyway
Chorus
No time in your heart for talking
No path in your heart for walking
Breaking down those walls
No place in your heart for us at all
Living in a place you said you'd never leave
Gravel voiced butchers, rock 'n roll in the breeze
An empty fridge and seven guitars
If we needed a drink we'd slip down to the bar
Once upon a time we talked without a breath
Walked endless miles on the river's edge
Nothing will come between you and me
In it for the long haul down on our knees
In Mary McBride's song "No Time," she describes the challenges of living in a city and dealing with the weight of the crowds. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling to maintain connections with her partner as she is overwhelmed by the demands of daily life. She suggests that there is "no time in your heart for talking," indicating that communication and connection have become difficult in the relationship. The chorus reinforces these themes, emphasizing the idea that there is no place for love or connection in the singer's partner's heart.
The second verse describes the singer's life in the city, highlighting the gritty aspects of her surroundings, such as the gravel-voiced butchers and the constant presence of rock 'n roll music. Despite these challenges, the singer suggests that her partner and she were once close, walking together by the river and talking without needing to take a breath. She hints that she is still committed to their relationship, despite her partner's apparent distance.
Overall, "No Time" is a poignant portrayal of the difficulties of maintaining love and connection in a fast-paced and overwhelming environment. The lyrics are delivered with a plaintive and soulful tone that captures the sadness and longing of the singer's situation.
Line by Line Meaning
The riot of the city's getting you down
You are feeling weighed down and overwhelmed by the chaos of the city
The weight of the crowd's pushing you down
The constant presence and pressure of other people is taking a toll on you
Need every bit of strength to get through the day
You are struggling to find the energy to make it through each day
Can't deal with me anymore anyway
You feel you can no longer handle the relationship or connection we once had
No time in your heart for talking
You are not willing or able to have a conversation or communication
No path in your heart for walking
You do not have a direction or purpose in your life
No strength in your heart for breaking down those walls
You lack the courage or motivation to overcome the barriers and obstacles in your life
No place in your heart for us at all
You no longer have any room or desire for our relationship or connection
Living in a place you said you'd never leave
You find yourself residing in a location that you previously swore you would never inhabit
Gravel voiced butchers, rock 'n roll in the breeze
The sounds of the city are rough and harsh, but music is still present
An empty fridge and seven guitars
You have a lot of musical gear, but not enough food to eat
If we needed a drink we'd slip down to the bar
Alcohol is an escape from the problems and challenges you are facing
Once upon a time we talked without a breath
We used to converse with great ease and enthusiasm
Walked endless miles on the river's edge
We would take long walks together by the water, enjoying each other's company
Nothing will come between you and me
We promised to stand by each other through thick and thin, and nothing will shake that commitment
In it for the long haul down on our knees
We are dedicated to this relationship for the long term, even if it means making sacrifices along the way
Writer(s): MCBRIDE MARY
Contributed by Tristan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.