Beginning violin lessons at the age of 8, Stratton followed quickly with cello lessons at 10, the piano at 11, and guitar at 16. It was through the piano that Stratton discovered a passion for writing and performing songs. After moving to Los Angeles in 1995, Casey signed with Magic Records. Work then began on the recordings that would eventually become his first full-length release, The Giver and the Grave Digger, which was released in 1996.
In 1997, after deciding not to renew his contract with Magic Records, Stratton began his first self-produced album, Lily Sleeps.
In the summer of 2000 Stratton moved to Chicago where he began a nearly two year hiatus from the record industry. He immersed himself in writing and recorded an independent album called The Winter Children. Many of these tracks would be re-recorded later and included on his Sony release Standing at the Edge.
Stratton's 6th studio album, "DIVIDE", was released in October 2005 on Stratton's independent label, Sleeping Pill Music. His next album, The Crossing, was released in April 2007. This was followed by Orbit, digitally released on February 5, 2008.
Memories and Photographs was released in September 2009, followed by A Winter Moon, an album of holiday music, in December 2009. Casey's next project, Myth & Stars, largely based on Greek Mythology, was released on September 21, 2010.
Opaline
Casey Stratton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Six of one but none of the other
I slid myself toward the fire
But I'd never burn
I could see what happened before
I could see them closing the door
For years I let all the water
Fill up my lungs
I could hear the sound of your blood
Cascading down toward my flood
I slid myself into what would
Be my revenge
Underneath the memories of anger
Lay your cloak and dagger
You had a way of crashing
Right in to me
What happened was all your fault
Why would you deny it?
Opaline
In the depths a figure was hiding
All dressed in black and deciding
If she would come to devour
Our falsified life
You never wanted to be
What you claimed to foresee
For yourself so I sat waiting
What happened was all your fault
Why would you deny it?
Opaline
You could have tried a little harder
To fix this
But somehow you made me believe
That this was all we could be
The lyrics to Casey Stratton's "Opaline" are deeply emotional and complex, exploring themes of loss, betrayal, and denial. The song paints a vivid picture of someone who has been hurt by a loved one's actions and is struggling to accept responsibility for their role in the pain they've caused.
The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer admitting to feeling lost and uncertain. They are torn between conflicting emotions and unsure of how to move forward. The line "six of one but none of the other" suggests that they are facing a difficult choice with no easy answers. They attempt to draw closer to the fire, seeking comfort in its warmth, but are unable to fully immerse themselves in it. Instead, they remain at a safe distance, unwilling to risk getting burned.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's feelings of anger and betrayal. They describe how they've been hurt by someone who was supposed to love them, and how they've been unable to let go of that pain. The refrain "what happened was all your fault, why would you deny it?" is a plea for the other person to take responsibility for their actions, even as the singer struggles with their own feelings of guilt and self-blame. The third verse introduces a new character, "a figure...dressed in black and deciding," who seems to represent the darker, more destructive aspects of life. The singer acknowledges that their situation is not entirely of their own making, but also recognizes that they've been complicit in perpetuating their own pain.
Overall, "Opaline" is a powerful and thought-provoking piece of music, with lyrics that are both moving and introspective. The song invites listeners to examine their own experiences of love and loss, and to consider the ways in which we are all responsible for our own happiness and suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
I was far too lost to discover
I was completely lost and unable to find my way.
Six of one but none of the other
No matter the option, the outcome was the same.
I slid myself toward the fire
I approached a dangerous situation, but was confident I wouldn't get hurt.
But I'd never burn
Even though I was in the midst of danger, I believed I was safe.
I could see what happened before
I had the ability to predict what was to come.
I could see them closing the door
I knew that they were going to abandon me.
For years I let all the water
For years I let everything negative in my life drag me down.
Fill up my lungs
To the point where it was difficult for me to breathe.
I could hear the sound of your blood
I was filled with bloodlust and the urge to take revenge.
Cascading down toward my flood
The anger and bitterness inside of me was threatening to overflow.
I slid myself into what would
I decided to give in to my vengeful emotions.
Be my revenge
And take revenge on those who I felt had wronged me.
Underneath the memories of anger
Beneath all my memories of anger and hostility,
Lay your cloak and dagger
I was deeply hurt by the betrayal of someone close to me.
You had a way of crashing
You always had a way of barging in to my life.
Right in to me
Without considering my feelings or the impact it would have on me.
What happened was all your fault
You were to blame for everything that went wrong.
Why would you deny it?
It's pointless to deny the obvious.
In the depths a figure was hiding
There was someone dangerous lurking in the shadows.
All dressed in black and deciding
Ready to strike, and make their move.
If she would come to devour
Eagerly waiting to take control of our lives and destroy everything.
Our falsified life
Everything I thought was real and true turned out to be an illusion.
You never wanted to be
You couldn't handle the responsibility.
What you claimed to foresee
You made promises that you had no intention of keeping.
For yourself so I sat waiting
But I stayed, holding on to false hope that things would get better.
You could have tried a little harder
You could have put in more effort to fix our relationship.
To fix this
But it's not too late to work on things.
But somehow you made me believe
You convinced me that we couldn't be anything more than this.
That this was all we could be
That we were limited in what we could achieve together.
Contributed by Leah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.