Dillon released her eponymous first solo album in 2001, a mixture of tradtional songs with two original compositions. This album garnered the best newcomer award and the best song for 'Black is the Colour' at the 2002 Radio 2 folk awards.
The follow up 'Sweet Liberty' was released in 2003 with her third album 'After the Morning' following in 2006.
In January 2008 Dillon and her band recorded a DVD The Redcastle Sessions in County Donegal which led to an extensive tour starting in the May and continuing through the folk festival season to the winter of 2008/9. This tour took-in venues across Ireland, Great Britain and The USA and introduced guitarist John Smith as a duet partner on the single If I Prove False, this single and a fourth album Hill of Thieves (released 26 January 2009) saw Dillon move to her own label Charcoal Records.
The Hill Of Thieves
Cara Dillon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the hills above Glenshane
And your rocks and your rain
Where the silent souls haunt the Priory walls
In the wind they sing "Come away, come away"
To the murmuring stream with the town below
And the babbling swell of winding Roe
"Come away", they say "to the Benedy Glen".
Where the Hound of the Plain has walked this land
And the loneliest mile, with a sword in his hand
And his blood runs still, in every stream and glen
And his home can be seen from the Hill Of The Thieves
For too long time I've been a stranger here
To the hills above Glenshane
And you rocks and your rain
Where the silent souls haunt the Priory walls
In the wind they sing "Come away, come away"
The opening lines of "The Hill Of Thieves" by Cara Dillon paints a beautiful yet haunting picture of an unfamiliar place. She sings, "For too long time I've been a stranger here, to the hills above Glenshane and your rocks and your rain, where the silent souls haunt the Priory walls, in the wind they sing 'Come away, come away'." The line suggests that the singer has come to visit a place for the first time or has been away from it for a very long time. The place she describes is misty, rocky, and rainy with a sense of supernatural elements to it. The presence of the silent souls haunt the Priory walls, and the wind is singing for the listener to come away. The Priory is a religious building, implying that the singer is describing a place of religious or spiritual importance.
The singer then takes us to the murmuring stream with the town below and the babbling swell of winding Roe. This could mean a river or stream with a winding path. The mood seems to change from subtle danger to peacefulness as she describes the great O'Cahan Clan who seem to beckon with the words, "Come away," to the Benedy Glen. There seems to be a sense of homecoming here, a sense of belonging where the great O'Cahan Clan once lived.
The third and final stanza tells the story of the Hound of the Plain who once walked this land. The loneliest mile, with a sword in his hand, suggests that this person was a brave warrior or a hero of sorts. This person's blood runs still, in every stream and glen, and his home can be seen from the Hill Of The Thieves. The entire song seems to be a tribute to this warrior and land, and the sense of longing and belonging to a place that Cara Dillon sings about is evident.
Line by Line Meaning
For too long time I've been a stranger here
I haven't been here for a while
To the hills above Glenshane
I'm unfamiliar with this location
And your rocks and your rain
The rocky terrain and rainy climate
Where the silent souls haunt the Priory walls
The dead spirits that reside in the Priory walls
In the wind they sing "Come away, come away"
Their voices can be heard in the wind, beckoning me to leave
To the murmuring stream with the town below
A nearby stream that flows past the town
And the babbling swell of winding Roe
The sound of the winding Rye River
And you still might hear the great O'Cahan Clan
The O'Cahan Clan, a historically significant group of people
"Come away", they say "to the Benedy Glen".
They urge me to visit Benedy Glen
Where the Hound of the Plain has walked this land
A place where a famous dog has roamed
And the loneliest mile, with a sword in his hand
The dog walked alone, armed with a sword
And his blood runs still, in every stream and glen
His blood is still in this land
And his home can be seen from the Hill Of The Thieves
His home is visible from Hill of the Thieves
Contributed by Molly L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@miagothberg7788
I love this song so much! Makes me want to fly and swirl around treetops. Gets me up the mornings nothing else will. And this version is extra beautiful.
Thank you ❤
@Anigerization
alchemy of sound :) Just beautiful. Incredible voice and those pipers! Wow.
@parthkoser
The melody! 💜
@popegreg23
I was at this show! Beautiful song.
@mamapokoyo
Goosebumps ....
@a1treated
I was adopted from the olde country but my fondness for the booze,girls & the odd skirmish , but mainly the music , Cara get mae toes tappin, Wow..
@joeshaunmeredith790
You where still are the light in my life
i had your oige cassette tape when i was a kid my mum used to get knocked about your music made me happy and my mum 💕💕💕🌹💐 thank you so much 😊
@Athena5801
Cara would make a lovely duet singer with Celia Pavey
@davidheavenor1455
In Concert at The Queen's Hall 6th May 22
@ahewings6611
go hálainn 🙏