The band formed in Sydney in 2004 and were originally known as The Spark. The brainchild of Alex Burnett (vocals, guitar) and Dave Hall (drums), Sparkadia became a reality with the addition of Nick Rabone (bass) and Josephine Ayling (keyboards, guitar, vocals) in 2006.
They first came into prominence in Australia with their debut EP titled Things Behind the Sun. The EP was released in Australia on 20 February 2007; with the lead single "Morning Light" being the #1 most downloaded track off Australian national broadcasters Triple J's website with 32,000 downloads in two months. This was followed by extensive Australian touring and led to signing with UK label Ark Recordings.
With a line-up change in 2008 with Tiffany Preece replacing Josephine Ayling, Sparkadia released their debut studio album Postcards on 31 May 2008. The album was recorded with producer Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode, Doves, Elbow etc.) at Miloco Studios, London. The album peaked at #23 on the ARIA albums chart.
The debut single off the album Animals was The Guardian's single of the week and received rotation on BBC Radio One. This was followed by the release of the singles "Too Much to Do", "Jealousy" and "Morning Light".
Subsequent single "Too Much to Do" was B listed by Radio 2, played by everyone from Colin Murray to Terry Wogan, and earned accolades from Mojo, Q4 Music and The Guardian. All four singles received airplay on Australian radio station Triple J. In January 2009 Sparkadia's hit Jealousy was number 79 in the triple j Hottest 100 of 2008.
The singles "Talking Like I'm Falling Down Stairs" (10 September 2010) and "China" (27 January 2011) were released in Australia and "Mary" (14 February 2011) was released in the UK ahead of the album "The Great Impression" (18 March 2011). The Great Impression debuted at no. 8 on the ARIA Albums Chart and at no. 1 on the ARIA Australian Artist Albums Chart. Talking Like I'm Falling Down Stairs came in at number 24 in the triple j Hottest 100 of 2010.
In 2011, Burnett made a new name for himself with the release of Sparkadia’s The Great Impression on OK!Good Records. The 12 track debut album showcases Burnett’s great skill in songwriting, with definite influence from 80s pop groups. Stylistically, The Great Impression combines retro elements and sprawling, anthemic choruses with evocative lyrics to form a bold work that is heartbreaking and uplifting all at once. “I wanted to write big songs”, says Burnett. “I wanted to go there on The Great Impression and see what would happen. It felt right.” Already a big chart success in his native Australia and growing in popularity in the UK, The Great Impression is all set to make just that on US audiences as well.
http://okgoodrecords.com
Mary
Sparkadia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause' every time I look away from you
You're all I see, Mary
If the pulse shifts the present
Then presently I would be living it differently now
The upside of downtime to think without thought
Is no better than getting distraught
I'll join them to beat them to keep them away
From the things that I cling to the most
I've done moving on, I'll leave it this day
So please, please
Mary, I don't know what to do Mary
Cause' every time I look away from you
You're all I see, Mary
Why don't you save me
Why don't you let me be or let me go
I'm begging on my knees
Forget me please, forgive me so
Ohh Mary!
If failures success then I'm keeping it hidden
To show what I now should confess
So sacred it seams I'm so scared of these dreams
That keep circling around in my head
I'd pretend that we started a thing that could end and begin as we'ld* want it to be
But nothings more costly than something for free
So please, please
Mary, I don't know what to do, Mary
Cause' every time I look away from you
You're all I see, Mary
If love is blind, I don't know what I'll find in you
I don't know what she'll see, In me...
Mary, I don't know what to do, Mary
Cause' every time I look away from you
You're all I see, Mary
Why don't you save me!
Why don't you let me be or let me go!
I'm begging on my knees
Forget me please, forgive me so!
Mary!
Mary
Mary
Mary
Why don't you save me
Why don't you let me be or let me go
I'm begging on my knees
Forget me please, forgive me so
Mary
*Australian Slang "we would"
The song "Mary" by Sparkadia is a contemplative reflection about the singer's relationship with Mary, who seems to be an object of his affection. The opening lines depict his confusion about his feelings for her- when he looks away from her, she is all he can see, and he doesn't know what to do with this. He seems to suggest that there is some attraction towards Mary that he cannot ignore, as she is constantly on his mind.
The song's chorus, "Mary, I don't know what to do Mary, 'Cause every time I look away from you, You're all I see, Mary," is a repeated confession of his confusion and emotional turmoil. He begs Mary to help him- to save him or let him go. The verses reveal more about his state of mind, with lines like "If failures success then I'm keeping it hidden To show what I now should confess." Here, the singer seems to be struggling to come to terms with his feelings, perhaps keeping them hidden because he fears rejection or doesn't know how Mary might react.
Overall, "Mary" is a heartfelt and emotional song that showcases the complexities of a turbulent relationship. The singer's feelings for Mary are intense and all-consuming, and he seems to be at a loss for what to do next. The song's somber tone beautifully captures the emotional intensity of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Mary, I don't know what to do, Mary
I'm struggling with my feelings for you and don't know what to do about it, Mary.
Cause' every time I look away from you
You're all I see, Mary
You have consumed my thoughts and attention to the point where I can't think of anything else, Mary.
If the pulse shifts the present
Then presently I would be living it differently now
The upside of downtime to think without thought
Is no better than getting distraught
If the circumstances were different, my life would be too. Thinking about our relationship is leaving me feeling lost and confused, and I can't decide what to do next.
I'll join them to beat them to keep them away
From the things that I cling to the most
I've done moving on, I'll leave it this day
So please, please
I'll keep up appearances and blend in with others to keep them away from what matters to me most. But I won't try to move on from you anymore because it's causing me pain.
Why don't you save me
Why don't you let me be or let me go
I'm begging on my knees
Forget me please, forgive me so
Ohh Mary!
I'm reaching out to you for help, Mary. I need either freedom or commitment; I'm on my knees begging for you to forget me or forgive me.
If failures success then I'm keeping it hidden
To show what I now should confess
So sacred it seams I'm so scared of these dreams
That keep circling around in my head
I'm hiding my failures as a way to show that I should be honest with you. These dreams of being with you feel too precious to reveal, though they keep recurring in my thoughts.
I'd pretend that we started a thing that could end and begin as we'ld* want it to be
But nothings more costly than something for free
So please, please
I could pretend that our relationship has no strings attached, and that we could come and go as we please. But that would come at a high cost, so I implore you to make a decision about our future, Mary.
If love is blind, I don't know what I'll find in you
I don't know what she'll see, In me...
Love is unpredictable, and I'm not sure what I'll experience with you. I'm also unsure of how you perceive me and my feelings, Mary.
Why don't you save me!
Why don't you let me be or let me go!
I'm begging on my knees
Forget me please, forgive me so!
Mary!
I'm pleading with you for clarity and resolution, Mary. Can you either commit to me or let me go? I need to move on from this painful limbo.
Mary
Mary
Mary
A desperate call for Mary's attention and affection.
Why don't you save me
Why don't you let me be or let me go
I'm begging on my knees
Forget me please, forgive me so
Mary
Reiterating the plea for a decision and the hope for a resolution with Mary.
Contributed by Scarlett N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rumeysayilmaz98
Mary, I don't know what to do, Mary
Cause' every time I look away from you
You're all I see, Mary
If the pulse shifts the present
Then presently I would be living it differently now
The upside of downtime to think without thought
Is no better than getting distraught
I'll join them to beat them to keep them away
From the things that I cling to the most
I've done moving on, I'll leave it this day
So please, please
Mary, I don't know what to do Mary
Cause' every time I look away from you
You're all I see, Mary
Why don't you save me
Why don't you let me be or let me go
I'm begging on my knees
Forget me please, forgive me so
Ohh Mary!
If failures success then I'm keeping it hidden
To show what I now should confess
So sacred it seams I'm so scared of these dreams
That keep circling around in my head
I'd pretend that we started a thing that could end and begin as we'ld* want it to be
But nothings more costly than something for free
So please, please
Mary, I don't know what to do, Mary
Cause' every time I look away from you
You're all I see, Mary
If love is blind, I don't know what I'll find in you
I don't know what she'll see, In me...
Mary, I don't know what to do, Mary
Cause' every time I look away from you
You're all I see, Mary
Why don't you save me!
Why don't you let me be or let me go!
I'm begging on my knees
Forget me please, forgive me so!
Mary!
Mary
Mary
Mary
Why don't you save me
Why don't you let me be or let me go
I'm begging on my knees
Forget me please, forgive me so
@anahitateymurian4110
This music is so underrated
@AnnaMay
Why isn't this on Spotify? :'(
@vicoisontheway_art4249
Anna May It was. But for some reasons they removed it🧐
@ronaldlake767
I heard this great track on Triple J over the weekend. Although the scenery looks very much like it could have been filmed within the U.K, it was actually filmed in Australia, about 2 hours drive south of Sydney at Kiama.
@neynato
ronald lake very good piece of information. Thank you very much for telling us that 👏
@garryhastings3383
Love the song, great eyeliner too...really works for him.
@mary-sunshinecornish2962
Officially obsessed
@debecock
Joyita, no entiendo porque sparkadia no es más reconocida, es hermosa :"C
@lindiemoon
Just can't get this song out of my head.
@lisalovesmusic
I saw this song live at the forum last night, absolute highlight of my night. brilliant voice. it went off.