Songs About Mary and Friends

Songs About Mary and Friends

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Posted 2022-08-17 by Steven Gfollow
Some time ago, I did a column where I listed songs with the names of females in the title, from A to Z . Since then, I have been hit with a steady trickle of comments about songs and names I could have used instead of the ones I did.

And, amongst that, one of the most common names that I have received comments about is "Mary". And not just Mary, but Marie and Maria. Apparently, there are a lot of songs with that name in the title.


It was about time of the fifth song suggested to me that I got to thinking about this, and considering Elvis (who I looked at recently ) named his daughter Lisa Marie, why not look at songs with that name or variations thereof?

Finding songs was really easy; cutting this down to a manageable list was not. But here we are, so I managed. For the record, I have not included 'Ave Maria' here. It's a fine piece of music, and if I had to choose, Charlotte Church's version would be the one I would have included, but I decided against classical music for this list. Sorry.

I'm changing the rules here. Still one version of each song, I need to like it, there's an available video, with an extra rule – no classical music. But one song per artist is being ignored this time.

Songs about Mary, Marie and Maria!
'Hello Mary Lou' by Ricky Nelson (1961)

I first heard this track by Creedence Clearwater Revival, but when I heard this original, I realised CCR had not done anything extra, and so here is that original. In fact, Nelson sounds like he's having more fun. A good little track from one of the early rock'n'roll artists.
'Absolutely Sweet Marie' by Bob Dylan (1966)

From Blonde On Blonde, this is a track I have always enjoyed. There are not as many cover versions of this as I would have thought there might be because it is a really good track. It also has one of Dylan's most quoted lines: "But to live outside the law, you must be honest…"
'The Wind Cries Mary' by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)

This is a subdued, almost pensive track. From the Are You Experienced? album, this is a track that would really come to its own when played live. Maybe not as flashy in the playing, it is a stunning piece.
'Proud Mary' by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)

Tough call, this. Which version to include? I went with my heart and put down my favourite version because that's what I do with these lists. The "Mary" in question is a riverboat, sure, but that does not diminish the awesomeness of this track. But I would not blame you if you prefer the Ike & Tina Turner version.
'I Love Marie' by The Easybeats (1969)

The thing I like about this track is the guitar sound – jangly like the Liverpool sound, but with a harder edge to it. There are very, very few Easybeats' songs I don't like, and this is one of their many great tracks.
'Take A Letter Maria' by R.B. Greaves (1969)

A song I have on 45, this track about a man getting his secretary to write a farewell latter to his wife before he runs off with said secretary sounds really good, but could be considered problematic lyrically. Is this worse that breaking up by text message? It'd be close. Still like the song.
'I Did What I Did For Maria' by Tony Christie (1971)

This is a song that I love. I know every word, and even learnt it on guitar. A man recalls why he killed some men, on the morning of his execution. A story in a song. Christie's voice is really smooth and the music works so well. Great track.
'Johnny And Mary' by Robert Palmer (1980)

The first Robert Palmer song I heard, this was an early track in the new wave style of music just starting to emerge. His voice is laid back and the track is an easy listen. Palmer's career saw him experiment with many different musical styles, and he had some success with most of them. Sadly missed.
'Taxi Mary' by Jo Jo Zep with Jane Clifton (1982)

This is such a good song that is often forgotten today. It has a Latin feel to it and the addition of Jane Clifton (who I knew at the time as an actress) really adds to the fun vibe of this track.
'Arms Of Mary' by Everly Brothers (1985)

This was a tough one, because I have five versions of this song and three of them could have been included. But I went for The Everly Brothers because their smooth vocal harmonies add something to the track. But Smokie and Keith Urban did good versions, and Chilliwack and the Sutherland Brothers (the original) are also worth your time.
'Mary Had A Little Jam' by Tommy Emmanuel with James Morrison (1998)

An instrumental, featuring one of Australia's greatest guitarists with one of Australia's greatest jazz musicians. This rocks along so hard, and is just a great piece of music.
'Maria, Maria' by Santana feat. The Product G&B (1999)

This is a weird track for me. I am not a huge fan of the guest singer, but the guitar playing is simply amazing. In fact, I reckon I've heard it sampled more than any other guitar lick in the past 20 years. The song is worth it just for that guitar playing.
'Maria' by Blondie (1999)

I found that Blondie's comeback after their fifteen years away was a little hit or miss, but this song is one of the best from that period. It follows on the pop route they were on when they broke up, and is a fun track.
'Mary's Place' by Bruce Springsteen (2002)

One of the best tracks from the amazing The Rising album, this is a track that is about coping with the loss of a loved one, written in the aftermath of the 2001 attacks on the USA. Lyrically it could have several actual meanings, which really helps make this song even better.
'O Mary, Don't You Weep' by Bruce Springsteen (2006)

Until I heard this version of the song (from We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions), I was ambivalent about the track. We learnt it at school and it was just meh. But Springsteen adds something to it that makes it not only listenable but worth singing along to.
And there we are, 15 songs about Mary, Marie and Maria. An interesting spread of years, but what was it about 1969? I hope you found something here to enjoy at any rate.
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83299 - 2023-06-11 06:40:21

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