Her family encouraged her to sing in the house, in a church choir and at school. At Waterford Regional Technical College she studied piano then took music at University College Dublin in 1987. Having learned to copy Ella Fitzgerald's scat singing, she performed in a Dublin bistro several nights per week while still a student. At the Royal Irish Academy of Music she studied classical music and sang in a jazz band, then a folk-ballad band, then another jazz band. She also fell under the influence of Dublin folk singer Frank Harte. During this time she also formed her own band, called Dorothy.
In 1993 Karan moved to New York City. There she studied jazz at Long Island University. When she encountered Irish traditional music sessions in New York she started singing Irish traditional music again. During this time she mostly sang in bars and locals. For most of 1994 she sang with a group called Atlantic Bridge. At the end of the year she joined Seamus Egan and others in Solas. She sang five songs on their first album in 1996. In the same year she sang in Tramps club in Manhattan, accompanied only by a percussionist. They mixed jazz and folk. In 1997 she recorded a solo album, Songlines, inspired by the novel of the same name by Bruce Chatwin. It was produced by Seamus Egan and included several members of Solas. There were a few traditional songs and some contemporary folk songs.
In 2000 Karan collaborated with several other singers on "Seal Maiden - A Celtic Musical". It was a musical version of the film "The Secret of Roan Inish", designed for children. It concerns the mythical creature called the selkie - a seal-woman. Since then Karan has recorded three further solo albums released in 2001, 2003 and 2005. In a salute to her Celtic roots, several tracks were recorded in her native Irish tongue. She also features on the DVD "Solas Live".
Her 2005 album Chasing the Sun includes a number of songs Casey wrote herself. Her records are released by Shanachie Records in the United States and Vertical Records in Europe.
Karan is now living in County Cork, and is married to Niall Vallely, a composer and player of traditional Irish music.
Solo albums
* Songlines (1997)
* Seal Maiden (2000)
* The Winds Begin To Sing (2001)
* Distant Shore (2003)
* Chasing The Sun (2005)
Recordings with Solas
* Solas (1996)
* Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers (1997)
* The Words That Remain (1998)
* Reunion: A Decade of Solas (2006, CD and DVD)
As session musician
* Dancing at Lughnasa (film) (1998)
* Waking Ned Devine (film) (1999)
* "Celtic Solstice" by Paul Winter
Bright Winter's Day
Karan Casey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bring me back to your embrace
Rain come down make the snows fade away
On this bright winter's day
(Chorus:)
And I wonder where you are now
In your own quiet way
On this bright winter's day
Herds of shadows they cross your eyes
Wars are waging there's no disguise
Herds through all of your sorrows sway
On this bright winter's day
(Chorus)
When the winds are still
And the rivers icy grey
I will always love you
Till the end of my day
(Chorus)
In Karan Casey's song Bright Winter's Day, the rain is used as a metaphor for the singer's longing to be back in the embrace of her loved one. The rain, falling softly on her face, reminds her of her lover and brings her back to a place of comfort and safety. The snow, which is one of the symbols of winter, disappears as the rain comes down, bringing with it a sense of renewal and hope.
The chorus of the song expresses the singer's wonder about where her loved one is, in their own quiet way, on this bright winter's day. This suggests that the singer and her loved one may have been separated, perhaps due to war or some other conflict. The herds of shadows that cross her eyes and the wars that are waging with no disguise may symbolize the struggles and hardships that the singer is going through as she longs for her loved one. Despite these difficulties, the singer still holds onto the memory of her love, expressing her enduring affection in the final verse.
Overall, the song is a poignant exploration of loss, love, and longing. The rain, snow, and winter imagery create a powerful mood that underlines the emotions expressed in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Rain fall softly to kiss your face
Gently falling rain touches your face lovingly
Bring me back to your embrace
Remind me of your warm and loving hug
Rain come down make the snows fade away
Rainfall causes the snow to melt away
On this bright winter's day
On a clear and sunny winter day
Herds of shadows they cross your eyes
Dark thoughts afflict your mind
Wars are waging there's no disguise
There are ongoing battles without any cover
Herds through all of your sorrows sway
Troubles shake you to the core
On this bright winter's day
Even on a beautiful winter day
When the winds are still
When the air is calm
And the rivers icy grey
And the rivers become frozen and dull
I will always love you
I will love you forever
Till the end of my day
Until my final day
And I wonder where you are now, In your own quiet way
I miss you and ponder where you might be in your private thoughts
And I wonder where you are now, On this bright winter's day
I think of you even on this delightful winter day
Contributed by Alexandra K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.