Keane was born in Caherlistrane, County Galway, Ireland. She is a sister of musician Seán Keane. Her aunts Rita and Sara Keane are also singers. She has duetted with American singer John Prine on his album In Spite of Ourselves.
Caledonia
Dolores Keane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the changes that have come over me
and these past few days i've been afraid
that i might drift away
i've been telling old stories, singing songs
that make me think about where i come from
and thats the reason why i seem
so far away today
let me tell you that i love you
that i think about you all the time
caledonia you're calling me
now i'm going home
and if i shall become a stranger
no it would make me more than sad
caledonia's been everything i've ever had
well i have moved
and i've kept on moving
proved the points
that i needed proving
i've lost the friends
that i needed losing
found others on the way
i have kissed the fellas
and left them sighing
stolen dreams yes theres no denying
i've travelled hard
sometimes with conscience flying
somewhere with the wind
let me tell you that i love you
that i think about you all the time
caledonia you;re calling me
now i'm going home
and if i shall become a stranger
no it would make me more than sad
caledonia's been everything i've ever had
now i'm sitting here
before the fire
the empty room
a forest choir
the flames have cooled
dont get any higher
they've withered now
they're gone
and i'm steady thinking
my way is clear
and i know what
i will do tomorrow
the hands have shaken
the kisses flowed
and i will dissappear
let me tell you that i love you
that i think about you all the time
caledonia you;re calling me
now i'm going home
and if i shall become a stranger
no it would make me more than sad
caledonia's been everything i've ever had
The lyrics to Dolores Keane's song Caledonia convey a sense of longing and nostalgia for a place that the singer holds dear to her heart. She begins by reflecting on the changes within herself, fearing that she may drift away from the person she used to be. She finds solace in the old stories and songs that she tells, as they remind her of where she comes from. This is what makes her seem so far away today, lost in thought about her past.
The title of the song, Caledonia, refers to Scotland, where the singer appears to be originally from. She is being called back home by her beloved Caledonia, which she addresses directly in the chorus. She professes her love for the place, saying that she thinks about it all the time, and acknowledges that it has been everything she has ever had. She is willing to leave anything behind, including people from her past, to answer the call of Caledonia.
The last two stanzas hint at the singer's plans to return home to Scotland. Sitting before the fire, she contemplates her future and arrives at a decision - to leave the past behind and disappear. The hands have shaken, the kisses flowed, and she is ready to start anew, with Caledonia as her constant anchor.
Line by Line Meaning
i dont know if you can see
I'm not sure if you can notice
the changes that have come over me
the differences that have happened to me
and these past few days i've been afraid
Lately, I have been scared
that i might drift away
that I could lose my sense of purpose
i've been telling old stories, singing songs
I have been reciting past memories, humming tunes
that make me think about where i come from
that makes me reflect on my origins
and thats the reason why i seem
So that's why I appear
so far away today
distant from the present moment
let me tell you that i love you
allow me to express how much I adore you
that i think about you all the time
I ponder about you frequently
caledonia you're calling me
Caledonia is beckoning me
now i'm going home
I am returning to where I am from
and if i shall become a stranger
If I turn into a foreigner
no it would make me more than sad
It would cause me a lot of grief
caledonia's been everything i've ever had
Caledonia has been my everything
well i have moved
I have relocated
and i've kept on moving
and I've continued to travel
proved the points
demonstrated the arguments
that i needed proving
that I had to prove
i've lost the friends
I have parted ways with acquaintances
that i needed losing
that I had to say goodbye to
found others on the way
discovered new companions during my journeys
i have kissed the fellas
I have smooched guys
and left them sighing
departing with them feeling dejected
stolen dreams yes theres no denying
taken aspirations without question
i've travelled hard
I have voyaged with effort
sometimes with conscience flying
At times, with a clear mind
somewhere with the wind
Somewhere on a whim
now i'm sitting here
Currently, I am here
before the fire
In front of the flames
the empty room
an unoccupied chamber
a forest choir
a woodland ensemble
the flames have cooled
The fire has weakened
dont get any higher
Won't get any taller
they've withered now
they have now diminished
they're gone
they do not exist anymore
and i'm steady thinking
I am constantly pondering
my way is clear
The direction to take is certain
and i know what
And I am aware of what
i will do tomorrow
I will undertake tomorrow
the hands have shaken
The hands have clasped
the kisses flowed
The expressions of love have been exchanged
and i will dissappear
And I will vanish
Contributed by Gabriella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-yy1on8hm7c
Only after burying our beautiful daughter 2 days ago 33 yrs old,she played this song on her travels to Vincent's hospital fr treatment,left behind broken hearted mother father 2 brothers a little 3 year old,,,liver cancer.,this song guts us all here listening to it,beautiful song.
@tombermingham4800
Sincere condolences 🙏
@marionlong1561
My husbands favoutite song played at our wedding and 14 months later at his funeral he took his oen life and the words now mean so much 2 me
@achimpfefferkorn3019
Dear Marion, I am very sorry for the loss of your husband. I lost one brother the same way. Our loved ones are always with us in our hearts. Stay healthy. Achim from Zurich
@williemobrien
❤❤❤
@eoinm5758
Wow sorry to hear that
@marionlong1561
@@eoinm5758 thank u 💓
@eoinm5758
@@marionlong1561 gave me goosebumps on my arms reading your comment and listening to the song
@cionnaithoriagain8836
I'm drunk, so I need to get this off my chest, I heard I was gonna be a dad for the first time while listening to this song in a Killarney traditional Irish pub, sadly we lost the baby but I end up here every time I'm drunk, I've since been blessed with 3 beautiful children and I know I'm so lucky ! But it still kills me, first time commenting, ignore me
@Donalob
I love comment's like these, telling a story. Glad that you're happy now lad.