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
Weary of Lying Alone
Karan Casey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I espied a fair maid in deep mourn
asked her the matter, she quickly made answer
I am weary from lying alone, alone
I am weary from lying alone
My comely young damsel come down here alongside me
And tell me of the years that have a flown
I am weary from lying alone, alone
I am weary from lying alone
If I got a comely young man who would take me without fortune
And make me a wife of his very own
For the truth is I’ll say is, I’ll die in despair
If I lie any longer alone, alone
If I lie any longer alone
There’s a neat sweet li’l flower in this garden alongside me
Take it away sure it is all but your own
For the flower it will fade and so also will the maid
For she’s weary from lying alone, alone
For she’s weary from lying alone.
Karan Casey's song "Weary of Lying Alone" tells the story of a fair maid who has grown tired of being alone. The singer of the song encounters the maid and asks her what's wrong. She responds that she is weary from lying alone. The maid then informs the singer that she has been alone for seven long years and eleven long months. She expresses her desire for a comely young man to take her as his wife and how she feels that if she doesn't find someone soon, she will die in despair. The maid then offers the singer a flower, saying that it is all but his own, as it will fade just as she feels she is fading from being alone.
The song touches on themes of loneliness and the desire for companionship. The fair maid's sadness is palpable, and the lyrics reflect a deep yearning for love and human connection. The song's imagery, with the mention of the flower and the garden, hints at the fleeting nature of life and the beauty that can be found in the midst of loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
One evening of late as I carelessly strayed
As I was wandering without any concern, one evening recently
I espied a fair maid in deep mourn
I saw a beautiful young woman who was grieving deeply
asked her the matter, she quickly made answer
I inquired about her troubles, and she promptly responded
I am weary from lying alone, alone
I'm exhausted from being alone and longing for companionship
My comely young damsel come down here alongside me
My pretty young woman, come and sit beside me here
And tell me of the years that have a flown
And share with me the details of the years that have passed
For seven long gone and eleven years around
For eighteen long years in total
I am weary from lying alone, alone
I'm weary from being alone for all this time
If I got a comely young man who would take me without fortune
If I found a handsome young man who would accept me without wealth
And make me a wife of his very own
And choose me as his wife
For the truth is I’ll say is, I’ll die in despair
Because the truth is, I'll give up hope and die unhappy
If I lie any longer alone, alone
If I remain alone any longer
There’s a neat sweet li’l flower in this garden alongside me
There is a beautiful and delicate flower growing next to me in this garden
Take it away sure it is all but your own
Take it as your own, it belongs to no one else
For the flower it will fade and so also will the maid
For the flower will wither and fade, as will I
For she’s weary from lying alone, alone
Because I'm exhausted from being alone
Contributed by Blake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Johnny L
Excellent voice and song. Emotionally tumultuous, yet soothing enough to make you fully at ease. Grade A artist :-)
David Newell
Karan has such a beautiful voice. Thanks.
Abigail Barletta
I am her biggest fan :) She is amazing
henriette prijt
Thank you for sharing this beautiful song.
ellendavis1224
I have seen her 3 times so clear to the soul
Eileen Nestor
Beautiful voice
Seosamh an Rí 'ac Ionnrachtaigh
an fhorléiriú go deo ! = a great interpretation !
Juan Martin
Preciosa criatura silvestre.
Folkskammer
wonderful this great voice
Leonard Lawrie
Very , very haunting voice ,