B i o g r a p h y
 (by Official Press)

Lovely by name, lovely by nature? Well, yes and no. The music certainly sounds lovely, so lovely in fact that it'll make you swoon and laugh and cry all at once. The voice is undeniably lovely, but then those of you who've been paying attention will already know that, from Mara's work with Plaid and Matthew Herbert. But listen a little closer and a rather darker voice can be heard, telling tales of love and loss, death and courage and of nightmares... Mara's musical journey has been a long one. Having formed a punk band with her brothers while still at primary school, it's safe to say that she's been making music all her life. In various ensembles Mara has sung her way through church music, jazz, bluegrass, opera and electronica, elements of all of which can be found sitting harmoniously side by side on this album. Recorded at home (a fairly Herculean task that involved, amongst other things, squeezing a string quartet into her front room) 'The Lovely' began life as a bunch of 4-track recordings known collectively as 'Mara's Album Ha Ha Ha'. This was not in homage to the book by Roddy Doyle, but a reference to the fact that Mara didn't really think that these songs would ever be anything more than musings for herself and her friends, particularly as she had (and still has) a full-time job.

But as more and more songs were born during nightshifts in the hospitals and hostels where she worked, and her sweet-but-sharp stories began to take shape, completing and releasing an album became happily inevitable. Mara signed to Matthew Herbert's Accidental records at the beginning of 2004 and put the finishing touches to 'The Lovely' in March. Arranged and produced by Mara, with additional production and mixing magic from her old buddies Plaid, the album is equal parts sinister and serene. The haunting opener, "Saw Song", demonstrates Mara's saw playing skills and swooping vocal range. "I Blame You Not", a loose arrangement of a piece of Schumann, has the feel of a jazz standard. "Bonding" and "Bravely Born(e)" are both awash with sweet forties-style harmonies. Conventional instruments such as piano and guitar appear alongside more unusual ones: ukuleles strum their way through quirky fairytale "Baby Bloodheart" and an mbira (African thumb piano) provides the pulse for the uplifting album closer "For Me". 'The Lovely' is an assured debut by one of the most talented and original singer-songwriters to emerge in recent memory; a collection of dark tales sung with a smile that will stand the test of time. The first single from The Lovely, "I Blame You Not" will be released on May 23rd accompanied by a stunning animated video by French designers Soandsau and heading to your TV screen soon.




The Lovely
- 2004 -

Saw Song ( Instrumental )
I Blame You Not
Alive
Bonding Song
It's Time
Lost To Sea
June 15
Bravely Born(e)
Pianni
Baby Bloodheart
For Me

Non Album Tracks
- Misc -

Dido's Lament
Game For Fools
He Makes My Day
Nice Dream
Piximerie
Walk the line


Add some NEW lyrics (B-sides, live tracks, Cover), want to CORRECT some of them or found a BUG ? Just send a little EMAIL or simply post a message on the FORUM. Thanx !

The Lovely

I Blame You Not

I blame you not
Although my heart is breaking
Love's ever lost to me
Love's ever lost for good
I blame you not
I blame you not

I blame you not
I blame you not
Although you shine like a diamond
There's no light into your heart
I've known so long

I blame you not
Although I swear my heart's gonna break
I've seen you in a dream
And seen you're not trying
And seen inside your heart
And seen that love just has seen who you are
I blame you not
I blame you not 

I blame you not
I blame you not
I blame you not
Oh I blame you not

Alive

I'm surprised by the sun everyday I wake up
I'm surprised by waking up
I'm surprised to see my blood still running through, erupt me
Think I must have died but
I'm surprised to sledge (?) upon a darkness night
I have cried a well of poisoned tears
I'm surprised that your skin can let in so much sin
But I know I'm still alive

Looks like I'm alive
Looks like I'm alive
Looks like I'm alive
Looks like I'm alive

I have tried to understand the hardest riddles
Love and hate beloved and strange
And I am tired but I know how to stop with ??? dried (?)
Now I know I'm still alive

Looks like I'm alive
Looks like I'm alive
Looks like I'm alive
Looks like I'm alive

Alive
Alive
Alive

Bonding Song

When I find peace of mind
I will try to find you, I swear
When I find peace of mind
I will try to find you, I swear
When I find peace of mind
I will come and get you, I swear for me

But I’m on fire, honey
???
That I have to leave
I have to leave you
'Cause I can’t be with you
I can’t be with you

When I find peace of mind
I will try to find you, I swear
When I find peace of mind
I will try to find you, I swear
When I find peace of mind
I will come and get you, I swear for me

Just give me time, honey
Let me feel the way on my own
And I would return if I can
I'd return
So just let me feel you

When I find peace of mind
I will try to find you, I swear
When I find peace of mind
I will try to find you, I swear

It's Time

Oh yes
My friend
I'm here
I am here

Didn't I say I would be
Didn't I say I would be
Here

And now there's so little chance of escape
And now there's so little chance of escape
Of escape

Face me
Face me
Face me
It's getting kind of hard
Face me
You're growing old
Face me
Face me
Face me

Lost To Sea

Woke up pretty strange
With pain in my face
And my belly full of stones

Like I'd lost you to the sea
I'd lost you to the sea

We're blind in the sun
From searching so long

Like I'd lost you to the sea
But I'd lost you to the sea

So you're calling me
So you're crawling at the sea
I was tied to the land

But I'd tore off my skin
And through myself in

I'm trying to substitute in the waves
And scream that I'll save you

Like the water are opened
And he will go

So to wake up and see you
Lying by me
Was the sweetest relief

For I'd lost you to the sea
I'd lost you to the sea

I'd lost you to the sea
For I'd lost you to the sea

Bravely Born(e)

Your eyes are closed
You're breathing slow
I watch with wonder as you go
Into a world where you'll find freedom
So leave all your worries here with me
Leave all your worries here with me
(Leave all your worries here with me)

If you're afraid of what was near
Just call my name and I'll appear
Here at your side
Keeping you safe
As you come bravely on your way
As you go bravely on your way

Pianni

My brother, you've been good to me
Strong, calm and bravely
Through it all, you've seen me through it all 

My brother, but you never call
That’s not true, you sometimes do
But mostly when you’re feeling sad
It drives me mad
But I still love you
I do

Baby Bloodheart

Once I knew someone who was so in love with someone
She cried blood-red lovehearts from her eyes
Her love knew well how her love could swell
She was Baby Bloodheart
And he was her beau...

And her cheeks glowed red with tears she shed
And her lips shake with the love they make
She could explode, she feels it so
And he knows...and he knows
He's Baby Bloodheart's beau

Once I heard Baby and her lover loving to each other
This is what I heard....he said:
"Stay with me, Baby Baby
Let me be everything your Bloodheart needs
Cos I love you so..."

She said:
"Oh my god...I can hardly breathe
this love is bursting through my heart and lungs
I'm afraid this love may lift me off this bed
So hold me down!"

Her cheeks glowed red with tears she shed
And her lips shake with the love they make
She could explode, she feels him so
And he knows...and he knows
He's Baby Bloodheart's beau...

For Me

Please, let things stay this way
Please, let things stay this way
Let things stay this way
It’s all so good
It’s all i need
I’m grateful, believe me
It’s all so good
It’s all I need
I’m grateful, believe me
Please, hold this moment for me
Please, hold this moment for me
Steal this moment, keep this moment
For me, for me...

Please don’t take this away
Please, please don't...
Please don’t take this away

Non Album Tracks

Dido's Lament

(H.Purcell)

When I am laid
When I am laid
I am laid in earth
May my wrongs create
No trouble
No trouble in thy breast

When I am laid
When I am laid
I am laid in earth
May my wrongs create
No trouble
No trouble in thy breast

No trouble
No trouble
No trouble in thy breast

No trouble
No no...
No trouble
No trouble in thy breast

Remember me
Remember me
But, ah, forget my fate

Remember me
Remember me
But, ah, forget my fate
Forget my fate...
Remember me...

Game For Fools

(Jamie Lidell cover / Baby Bloodheart EP)

Try me, the
First moment you hesitate
Better ask yourself why

Don't you wait until it's too late
Until something inside has died

When you're paralyzed
No direction at all
Find yourself way up high
Now there's only space to fall
When you're losing even when you know the rules
Must be the game for fools

'Cause the first moment you hesitate
Better ask yourself why
Don't you wait until it's too late
Until something inside has died

Yeah it's easy, down the line
To make a map of your lies
But you can't keep on keepin' the truth
Well disguised
Acting like it was alright
When it, it was all wrong

And feels like you wasted so much time
Forever trying to make up your mind
Now it's clear, you should have just moved on
Simply packed your bags and gone (pack your bags and gone)

'Cause the fist moment you hesitate
You can kiss those plans goodbye
Don't you wait until it's too late
Oh something inside might die
If you're losing when you know
Yeah you know the rules
It must be playing, the game for fools

And congratulations
Yeah, you're winning
Yeah, you're winning the game for fools
Yeah, you're winning the game for fools
Yeah, you're winning
You tried and you're winning the game for fools

*** Thanx a lot to Alexander who corrected some mistakes ***

He Makes My Day

(Bleeps-oh-six compilation)

I feel so lucky lovin' him
Tell me what is his magic for
He thinks it's better left unsaid

He makes his mind up at the glance
He truly made it difference
I seem to be unconditionally his

He's like a new boy every day
And all the rest don't bother me
I'm far too busy lovin' him

I'll never be lonely
Now I know him
He fills my heart with joy

He just has to smile
To blow my cares away
He just has to touch my hand
To make me stay

He's all good
He's all good
He's all good
He's all good

Our love was unintentional
He says we're not responsible
He thinks with his chin up

He always makes uncommon sense
Always knows just what to say
He always takes me unawares

In less time than it takes to fall
I'm here and there you are
We never fought it anyway

I'll never be lonely
Now I know him
He fills my heart with joy

He just has to smile
To blow my cares away
He just has to touch my hand
To make me stay

He's all good
All good
He's all good
All good
He's all good
All good
He's all good
All good
All good
All good
All good
All good

Nice Dream

(Radiohead Cover / Matthew Herbert feat. Mara Carlyle )

They love me like I was a brother
They protect me, listen to me
They dug me my very own garden
Gave me sunshine, made me happy

Nice dream
Nice dream
Nice dream

I call up my friend, the good angel
But she's out with her answerphone
She says that she’d love to come help but
The sea would electrocute us all

Nice dream
Nice dream
Nice dream
Nice dream
Nice dream
Dream dream dream....

Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Oh come on, oh come on, oh come on
Listen to me
Listen to me

Nice dream, nice dream

If you think that you're
If you think you
If you think that you’re
If you think you
If you think that you're (listen to me)
If you think you (listen to me)
If you think that you're (listen to me)
If you think you
If you think that you're strong enough (listen to me)
If you think you belong enough (make me happy)
If you think that you're strong enough (make me happy)
If you think you belong enough (make me happy)
If you think that you're strong enough (make me happy)
If you think you (make me happy)
If you think that you're strong enough (make me happy)
If you think you belong enough (make me happy)
If you think that you're (make me happy)
If you think you (make me happy)
If you think that you’re (make me happy)
If you think you (make me happy)
If you think that you're
If you think you (make me happy)
If you think that you’re (make me happy)
If you think you

Nice dream

*** Thanx a lot to Basia for this one ***

Piximerie

(Amerie's "1 Thing" / Baby Bloodheart EP)

Oh, been trying to let it go
Trying to keep my eyes closed
Trying to keep it just like before
The times when we never even thought to speak
Don't wanna tell you what it is
Oh wee, it felt so serious
Got me thinking just too much
I wanna set it off, but

It's this one thing that's got me tripping
It's this one thing that's got me tripping
This one thing my soul may be feeling
It's this one thing you did uh uh
It's this one thing that caught me slipping
It's this one thing I want to admit it (you did)
This one thing and I was so with it
It's this one thing you did uh uh
It’s this one thing you did uh uh…

Hey, we don't know each other well
So why I keep pickin' up my cell?
Memories just keep ringing bells
Hear voices I don't want to understand
My car keys are jingling in my hand
My high heels are clicking towards your door

Maybe I just can't believe it
It's this one thing you did uh uh
I'm hoping you can keep a secret
It's this one thing you did uh uh

It's this one thing that's got me tripping
It's this one thing that's got me tripping
This one thing my soul may be feeling
It's this one thing you did uh uh
It's this one thing that caught me slipping
It's this one thing I want to admit it (you did)
This one thing and I was so with it
It's this one thing you did uh uh
It's this one thing you did uh uh…

Walk the line

( Dani Siciliano cover )

Slipped your tongue out one too many times
Leaving me with thoughts that weren't even mine
There's no room for social pleasantries
Patient ties when left with stupidity

Walk the kind
Walk the line
Walk the kind

Caught you stocking up on your public needs
Drawing in the plots of your enemy
There's no room for your social wizardy
Not when you stir my life dysentry

Walk the kind
Walk the line
Walk the kind

Soon you'll be a shaded memory
Caught your lost before I get to

Don't get too close
You're way too close
Don't try to nose or i'll throw you off your need
Don't try

Don't get too close
You're way too close
Don't try to nose or i'll throw you off your need
Don't try

Don't get too close
You're way too close
Don't try to nose or i'll throw you off your need
Don't try

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