His songwriting was rooted in Scottish life and he found an audience within and beyond the folk music scene, which led to him working as a support musician for performers including Van Morrison, The Proclaimers, Barbara Dickson and Deacon Blue.

Marra attended Lawside Academy,[3] leaving school at 15 and trying a variety of trades – electrician, baker and builder – before heading for the folk clubs of London.

Signed to Thunderbird Records at an inopportune time, when punk was gaining popularity, the band released two singles, "Streethouse Door" and "Moonlight in Jeopardy", to critical success.

[citation needed] In September 2007 Marra released the CD Quintet, featuring five songs about five musicians – Peerie Willie Johnson, Peter McGlone, Thomas Fraser, Martin Carthy and Dr. John.

[6] His songs have been covered by a wide range of artists, including Sylvia Rae Tracey, Coope Boyes and Simpson, Alan Cumming, Leo Sayer and Rab Noakes.

In April 2006, having his fingerprints routinely taken by Customs in Washington D.C. – where he was performing as part of Tartan Week – Marra was inspired to write a protest song about Scottish police detective Shirley McKie, who had been wrongly accused of leaving her thumbprint at a murder scene in 1997.

In February 2006, McKie received an out-of-court settlement of £750,000 from the Scottish Executive, which first minister Jack McConnell described as a result of an honest mistake.

In the song, Marra wrote: "We lecture children if they're telling lies They will not prosper and they will not thrive... And even the First Minister must sometimes stand naked.

Tackling literary adaption, "Happed in Mist" revolves around the executed deserter from the famous Scottish novel Sunset Song.

The song is intended as a contrast to typical militaristic and imperialist national anthems, and describes the day-to-day life of an innocent meek character who claims, "Ma feet micht be big but the insects are safe They'll never get stood on by me" concluding, "Naeb'dy would notice that I wasnae there If I didnae come hame for ma tea..."[11] Marra was married to Peggy, and their children, Alice and Matthew, are also musicians and members of the Dundee-based group, The Hazey Janes.