On 29 April 1994 the Mick Ronson Memorial Concert was staged including the new song Resurrection Mary. This is a story song about a well-known Chicago area legend. The legend relates that an apparition appears to drivers and there are allusions to the corruption, Mafia, and cronies that are endemic to Chicago such as Big Jim Colosimo. In a religious experience, the driver hopes to repent and be reborn and then Mary speaks in tongues which is known as glossolalia. The lyrics evolved over the years between the studio and live versions.
Hunter advises that the song came from seeing a documentary about the legend on 60 Minutes. Mary is the elusive spectral "incandescent glow" in the song who was run over by a hit and run driver and was never found. The incident occurred on Archer Avenue and Mary allegedly hitches taxis outside Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Illinois. The truthful aspect of the song is confirmed by Ian who called the cemetery to verify that Mary is actually buried there; there is dispute about the specific identification of the Mary in question though. Hunter was told that this is one of the best songs he'd ever written and he agrees.
There is a trio version and a live release from 1994.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Big Jim Colosimo
Resurrection Mary
(Ian Hunter)
(Studio version)
In 1935 I was living in paradise, I had a friend up in Cicero.
We used to go out to the track, we'd knock a few whiskeys back.
I'd lose my shirt and then I would lose my way home
I was driving my Stutz Black Hawk through Justice in the dark,
when suddenly the blood froze in my veins.
She was standing by the road in an incandescent glow,
My heart stood still, my foot slammed on the brakes.
She said "Please, please would you dignify my wish?
I'm trying to get to Heaven, could you tell me where that is?"
On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white,
I caught my first sign of Resurrection Mary.
I was trembling like a leaf, I was scared beyond belief,
after all my conscience ain't that clear.
I used to work for Mickey Finn, I did the numbers for Big Jim
Perhaps my day of reckoning lies here?
I said "Please, please, I would dignify your wish.
But when it comes to Heaven, I'm just a little bit amateurish."
On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white
I cheated time with Resurrection Mary.
And I felt tears form in my eyes,
for the first time I felt something deep inside,
and the first time I saw angels high in the air,
for the first time in my life,
and I said "Mary, go to the light, it's gonna be alright."
I got down on my knees, I said "Sweet Mary, please,
dignify these wishes before you run.
Will you tell him I've reformed, will you tell him I'm reborn?"
She closed her eyes and then she spoke in tongues
I said "Please, please, tell me what he said."
She said "You must die
the day before the devil knows you're dead."
On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white
I waved goodbye.
On a wild Chicago night, oh with a wind howling white
I lost sight
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
with the naked eye
with the naked eye
with the naked eye
with the naked eye
There are a number of differences to the lyrics in the live version as performed at the Mick Ronson Memorial Concert at London's Hammersmith Apollo, 29th April 1994.
In 1935 I was living in paradise, I had a friend up in Cicero.
We used to go out to the track and knock a few whiskeys back.
I'd lose my shirt and then I'd lose my way home
I was driving my Stutz back home through Justice in the dark,
when suddenly the blood froze in my veins.
She was standing by the road in an incandescent glow.
My heart said 'run' but my foot slammed on the brakes.
She said "Please, please would you justify my wish?
I'm trying to get to Heaven, will you tell me where that is?"
On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white,
I caught my first sign of Resurrection Mary, RM, RM, RM.
I was trembling like a leaf, I was scared beyond belief,
after all my conscience is not clear.
I used to work with Mickey Finn, I did the numbers for Big Jim
Perhaps my day of reckoning was here?
I said "Please, please, I'd love to dignify your wish.
But when it comes to Heaven, I'm just a little bit amateurish."
On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white
I cheated time with Resurrection Mary, RM, RM, RM.
Yeah the tears were forming in my eyes,
for the first time, I felt something deep inside,
and for the first time I saw angels high in the air,
for the first time in my life.
I said "Mary, go to the light, it's gonna be alright."
I got down on my knees and I said "Sweet Mary, please,
justify the wishes before you run.
Will you tell him I've reformed, will you tell him I'm reborn?"
She closed her eyes and then she spoke in tongues
I said "Please, please, will you tell me what he said?"
She said "You must die
the day before the devil knows you're dead."
On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white
well I waved goodbye to Ressurection Mary, RM, RM, RM.
On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white
I lost sight
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
with the naked eye
with the naked eye
with the naked eye
with the naked eye.
| Resurrection Mary | 6:11 | Originally issued on The Artful Dodger. |
| Resurrection Mary (trio version) | 6:55 | This version can be found on Tilting The Mirror - Rarities (box set only). |
| Resurrection Mary (live 29th April 1994) | 7:28 | This live version (recorded Hammersmith Apollo, London England) is on The Mick Ronson Memorial Concert, and on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 1) (box set only). The version on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 1) appears 10s longer (at 7:38) due to extended crowd noise at the start and end. |
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