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
One I love
Karan Casey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One, I love
Two, she loves
And three, she's true to me
All of my friends fell out with me
Because I kept your company
Let them say whatever they will
They tell me he's poor, they tell me he's young
I tell them all to hold their tongue
If they could part the sand from the sea
They never could part my love from me
It's over the mountain he must go
Because his fortune is too low
With an aching heart and a troubled mind
He's leaving his own true love behind
When I'm awake, I find no rest
Until his head lies on my breast
When I'm asleep I'm dreaming of
My one, my dear, my own true love
And when the fire to ice will run
When the tide no longer turns
When the rocks melt with the sun
My love for you will have just begun
1
The song "One I love" by Karan Casey is a traditional Irish ballad that tells the story of a love that endures despite social pressures and economic hardships. The chorus repeats the phrase "One, I love; two, she loves; and three, she's true to me," emphasizing the strength and loyalty of the relationship.
The first verse describes how the singer's friends have abandoned her because of her choice of romantic partner. However, she remains steadfast in her love and refuses to let others dictate her happiness. The second verse responds to the criticisms of the lover's poverty and youth, proclaiming that their love is too strong to be affected by material concerns. The third verse depicts a separation due to economic reasons, but the love between the two remains constant and intense.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of defiance against societal norms and expectations, as well as a deep emotional connection between the two lovers. The lyrics convey a message of perseverance, devotion, and the enduring power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
All of my friends fell out with me
I lost all my friends because I kept your company
Let them say whatever they will
I don't care about what others say about us
I love my love with a free good will
I love you with freedom and free will
They tell me he's poor, they tell me he's young
People tell me that you're poor and young
I tell them all to hold their tongue
I tell them to shut up
If they could part the sand from the sea
Even if they can move mountains, they can't separate us
They never could part my love from me
My love for you is unbreakable
It's over the mountain he must go
You have to leave because you're poor
Because his fortune is too low
Your financial situation is not good enough
With an aching heart and a troubled mind
You're leaving with a heavy heart and a troubled mind
He's leaving his own true love behind
You're leaving your true love behind
When I'm awake, I find no rest
I can't find peace when I'm awake
Until his head lies on my breast
Until you're with me and I can hold you close
When I'm asleep I'm dreaming of
Even in my sleep, I dream of you
My one, my dear, my own true love
You are my one and only true love
And when the fire to ice will run
When the impossible happens
When the tide no longer turns
When things in the world stop functioning
When the rocks melt with the sun
When nature itself changes
My love for you will have just begun
My love for you will continue to grow and never end
Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.