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 World Looks Away
Karan Casey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To find it all the same
The pain was still here
And the world looked away
|: The world looked away :|
Palestine burns
The curfew lingers on
Occupation by dawn
|: And the world looks away :| (3 x)
Refugee's set your spirit free
Rise your souls above the dust
An F16 won't bring you down
Nor take your land from your heart
Child of Jenin
Your strength must get you through
They took your brothers once
Soon they will come for you
|: And the world will look away :|
Refugee's set your spirit free
Rise your souls above the dust
An F16 won't bring you down
Nor take your land from your heart
And the world looks away
The song "The World Looks Away" by Karan Casey is an emotional and politically charged reflection on the ongoing conflict in Palestine. The opening lines depict the lingering feeling of despair experienced when waking from a dream where everything seemed fine only to realize that the pain and turmoil of reality hasn't dissipated. The chorus repeats the phrase "the world looks away" in a lamenting tone, highlighting the international community's seeming indifference towards the plight of Palestinian people living under brutal occupations.
The second verse describes the continuing struggle in Palestine, with the never-ending curfew and the constant threat of invasion and occupation. The verse also serves as a call to action, urging refugees to rise above their surroundings, find their strength, and set their spirits free. The lyric "An F16 won't bring you down, nor take your land from your heart" speaks to the resilient and enduring nature of the Palestinian spirit.
The third verse is a direct plea to a child of Jenin, a city in the West Bank that has seen much violence and despair, to summon all their courage and determination to persevere through the injustice that has already claimed the lives of their brothers. The verse ends the same way the chorus does, emphasizing the crucial role the world at large plays in the tragedy of Palestine.
Overall, this poignant song is a reminder of the ongoing struggle and suffering of those caught in a conflict not of their making, and the desperate need for empathy, understanding, and action to help end their plight.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up from the dream
The dream represents hope for a better world. The realization that it was just a dream means that the current world is still full of pain and suffering.
To find it all the same
Despite the dream, nothing has changed for the better in the real world.
The pain was still here
The suffering and agony that exists in the world still remains as it was before the dream.
And the world looked away
The world, including society and governments, refuses to acknowledge or do anything about the suffering in the world.
Palestine burns
Palestinian lands are being destroyed due to political conflict and war.
The curfew lingers on
People are being oppressed and not allowed to have their basic human rights.
Invasion by night
Military forces sneak in and attack when no one is watching.
Occupation by dawn
Military forces take over entire areas and control them, removing people from their homes and lands.
And the world looks away
Despite the inhumane treatment of Palestinians, the world chooses to turn a blind eye to their suffering.
Refugee's set your spirit free
Despite being refugees, people can still choose to keep their spirits high and not let their situation bring them down.
Rise your souls above the dust
Don't let the world consume or destroy who you are as a person. Rise above it and remain strong.
An F16 won't bring you down
No matter what weapons are used against you, your spirit cannot be defeated by them.
Nor take your land from your heart
Even if one loses land and homes, the love and connection to that land remains forever.
Child of Jenin
Refers to the innocent children of Jenin, a Palestinian city inflicted by war and military oppression.
Your strength must get you through
Although faced with unspeakable horrors and trauma, the inner strength and resilience must carry one through dark times.
They took your brothers once
Many Palestinian families have lost loved ones to the violence and oppression inflicted upon them.
Soon they will come for you
The threat of further violence and oppression looms over innocent children, harshly taking away their childhoods.
And the world will look away
Expected to continue the trend, the world and society choose to ignore the plight of Palestinian children and innocent civilians.
And the world looks away
Reinforcement of how the world ignores or is unaware of the suffering and oppression inflicted upon Palestinian civilians.
Contributed by Hailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
D Ruenalp
Beau souvenir que ce trio...
FolkClubCahors
Belles harmonies pour une triste vérité !