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
The Ballad Of Tim Evans
Karan Casey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down in his prison cell
And those who read about his crimes
Condemned his soul to hell
Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down"
For the killing of his own dear wife
And the murder of his child
The hangin' judge, he smiled
Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down"
They took Tim Evans from the dock
And they led him to his cell
They closed the door behind his back
Saying "damn your soul to hell"
Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down"
Tim Evans pleaded innocent
He swore by Him on high
He never killed his own dear wife
Nor caused his child to die
Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down"
Tim Evans walked around the yard
Some screws, they walked behind
He saw the sky above the wall
He knew no peace of mind
Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down"
The governor came to his cell
The chaplain by his side
Saying, "Your appeal has been turned down
Prepare yourself to die"
Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down"
They took Tim Evans to the place
Where the hangman did prepare
They tied a rope around his neck
With a knot behind his ear
Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down"
A thousand lads were screaming
And cursing at the doors
Tim Evans didn't hear them
He was deaf forever more
Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down"
They sent Tim Evans to the dock
For a crime he didn't do
It's Christy was the murderer
The judge and jury too
Sayin', "Go down you murderer go down"
The Ballad of Tim Evans by Karan Casey tells the story of a man named Tim Evans who was wrongly accused of the murder of his wife and child. The song captures the cruel injustice done to Tim Evans, who goes through a harrowing experience of being sentenced to death by hanging for a crime he did not commit. The lyrics reflect the anguish of a man who is held responsible for a crime he didn't commit and is eventually executed anyway.
The song is a powerful representation of the flaws in the judicial system and the irreversible consequences of wrongful convictions. It speaks to the importance of ensuring that justice is done correctly and fairly at all times. The lyrics also capture the spirit of defiance and resistance that is present in the face of injustice, with Tim Evans pleading his innocence until the very end.
Overall, The Ballad of Tim Evans is a moving and poignant song that serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of justice and fairness in our society, and the devastating consequences that occur when these principles are not upheld.
Line by Line Meaning
Tim Evans was a prisoner
Tim Evans was incarcerated
Down in his prison cell
He was imprisoned in a cell
And those who read about his crimes
People who read about his supposed crimes
Condemned his soul to hell
Believed he was evil and should suffer eternally
Sayin', "Go down, you murderer, go down"
Rooting for him to be punished and die for alleged murder
The jury found him guilty
A jury found him guilty
The hangin' judge, he smiled
The judge who presided over his case was pleased with the verdict
They took Tim Evans from the dock
He was removed from the trial setting
And they led him to his cell
He was lead to his cell
They closed the door behind his back
His cell was secured after he was put inside
Saying "damn your soul to hell"
Cursing him
Tim Evans pleaded innocent
He argued that he did not commit the crime
He never killed his own dear wife
He claimed that he was innocent of spousal murder
Nor caused his child to die
He also claimed that he was not responsible for his child’s death
Tim Evans walked around the yard
He was walking about the prison yard
Some screws, they walked behind
Guards or other authority figures followed him
He saw the sky above the wall
He saw the sky outside of the prison walls
He knew no peace of mind
He was not able to find peace, despite his surroundings
The governor came to his cell
The governor visited Tim Evans in prison
The chaplain by his side
A chaplain accompanied the governor
Saying, "Your appeal has been turned down
The governor told him he could not appeal his verdict
Prepare yourself to die"
The governor informed him that he was going to be executed
They took Tim Evans to the place
He was taken to the place of execution
Where the hangman did prepare
The hangman was there to prepare for the execution
They tied a rope around his neck
A rope was put around his neck
With a knot behind his ear
The rope was then tightened behind his ear
A thousand lads were screaming
A large group of people were screaming and yelling
And cursing at the doors
They were aggressive and angry
Tim Evans didn't hear them
He could not hear them, for he was deaf
He was deaf forever more
He would never hear again
They sent Tim Evans to the dock
He was sent to trial
For a crime he didn't do
He was wrongly accused
It's Christy was the murderer
Christy was the actual murderer, not Tim Evans
The judge and jury too
Even the judge and jury got the verdict wrong, and convicted an innocent man
Sayin', "Go down you murderer go down"
People still insulted him and called him a murderer even after he was executed for a crime he didn't commit.
Contributed by Kayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.