Pad… Read Full Bio ↴Patrick "Paddy" Casey is an Irish singer-songwriter from Dublin.
Paddy Casey’s music is appealing to a wide audience. His debut album was one rich in soulful grooves and catchy hooks. The album opened loudly with the rousing Fear, and ended with the angry and despondent It’s Over Now, while exploring themes of loneliness, loss, love and social problems facing the young generation along the way. Paddy lists influences such as Bob Marley, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder in his work, and this influence shines in songs like the memorable Downtown, and the haunting Would U B. His sophomore effort, Living, saw Casey returning to the themes of solitude and isolation with songs such as Don’t Need Anyone, Want It Can’t Have It and the poignant Anyone That’s Yet To Come. But this time, there was a greater sense of urgency in his voice, as the singer sought redemption through discovering hidden beauty in the people around him, in songs like Miracle and The Lucky One, and offered counsel in the stirring Saints And Sinners.
He released his first album Amen (So Be It) in 1999. This album was produced by Pat Donne and was certified double platinum. Casey himself played a range of different instruments in the short time spent recording it, and the track Winter's Fire featured Mundy as a guest guitarist. The album saw Casey rise to prominence as a gifted and intensely focused singer songwriter, capable of master strokes like Sweet Suburban Sky, Rainwater, and Fear. The album also contained the breezy and wistful single Whatever Gets You True and the anthemic It's Over Now. Sweet Suburban Sky also surfaced the following year on the soundtrack to the award winning US TV teen drama Dawson's Creek. Paddy received nominations for Best Irish Songwriter and Best Male Singer at the prestigious Hot Press Awards. Hot Press readers themselves voted the album Best Debut Album, as well as voting Paddy the year’s Most Promising Act and nominating him in seven other end of the year categories. Intense touring saw Casey providing support to artists like R.E.M., Ian Brown, Ani DiFranco and The Pretenders.
Casey returned in 2003 with the hugely successful multi-platinum album, Living. The release of Living restored Casey as one of the masters of his trade, taking his place among the songwriting elite who had stolen his crown in the time he waited before following up Amen (So Be It). Living was produced by Fred De Faye, Paddy Casey and Pat Donne. It spawned the Irish chart hits Saints and Sinners, The Lucky One (in 2003) Bend Down Low and Want It Can't Have It (in 2004). A critical success, Living made an immediate impact and spent the majority of the year in the top ten, finally climbing to the top of the charts 21 weeks after it's initial release. 2004 proved to be a memorable year for Casey, winning his first of two consecutive Meteor Irish Music Awards for Best Irish Male. He also garnered rave reviews for a blistering performance at that years Oxegen Festival. 2004 saw Living confirmed as the highest selling Irish album of the year, even eclipsing U2's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Public demand was met with an incredible week long residency at the Olympia Theatre. The year ended with another sold out performance at Dublin's RDS.
In 2005, Casey headlined a sell-out concert at the Heineken Green Energy Festival and also supported U2 on their sell-out Vertigo tour, performing in Ireland, Scotland, and Norway.
He is a personal friend of fellow Irish singer-songwriter Declan O'Rourke, who played guitar in Casey's band before his own solo career took off upon the release of his album Since Kyabram.
Paddy Casey's third album was released in 2007.
His backing band consists of Tim McGrath (drums), Cionn O’Callaghan (percussion), Fiona Melady (keyboards and backing vocals), John Colbert (bass and backing vocals), Andy Coogan (guitar and backing vocals), and Jonathon O’Halloran (flute and trumpet).
Other influences cited by Paddy Casey include Duke Ellington, John Martyn, The Waterboys, Prince and Sly And The Family Stone.
If you would like more information please visit his site: http://www.paddycasey.com/index.php
Fear
Paddy Casey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For what you people want to do to one another
For the water, for the trees
Man, I'm scared of pollution, of disease
And I'm scared that my child won't live a long time
With your murderin', rape and your drug money crime;
Scared of the drugs stealing youth from the young.
And I pray my child lives happy and long,
And I hope she never will sing this song
And I pray, my child, live happy and long, Lord
And I hope she never will sing this song
Well as some men talk of peace now, good intentions.
I'm only gonna look at his latest inventions.
Hope I'm wrong, Heard I'm right
Man he could end it all tonight.
I know upon this night another village is burning;
Child lose their life as their first sun is turning;
Leaders of holocaust stand so tall;
Man it looks like there ain't no value in life at all
Well I pray my child will live happy and long, Lord,
And I hope she never will sing this song
So lord please forgive me if my fear offend now
It's just so hard to transcend now
Cause when i ran away from my bad dream
The child inside was too scared and screamed
Paddy Casey's song Fear is about the singer's concerns and fears for the future, particularly for his child's future. The song explores many issues, including pollution, disease, murder, rape, drug addiction and the loss of innocence. Casey's song is a powerful reflection on the harsh realities facing people today, and the hope that they hold for a brighter tomorrow.
The first verse talks about Casey's worries for his child and her mother. The second verse delves deeper into the issues that weigh on his mind, such as the preying of drug dealers and the lack of justice served by society to prevent crime. He also highlights how the stories of the innocent victims of such tragedies never get sung. The chorus proclaims his fervent wish that his child's life will be long and safe, and that she will never have to sing this song.
The bridge then focuses on the cynical nature of man, as leaders who stand tall in the face of holocaust let villages burn and people die, turning life into something of no value. Casey expresses his fears and doubts, praying for a better future for his child as he confronts his own feelings of helplessness.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the harsh realities of life, and the hope and faith we must hold on to, even in the face of despair.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm scared for my child, lord, for her mother
I'm afraid for my child and her mother, worried about what people are capable of doing to each other.
For what you people want to do to one another
I fear what people are capable of doing to each other.
For the water, for the trees
I'm anxious about pollution and what it's doing to our planet, our water, and our trees.
Man, I'm scared of pollution, of disease
I'm afraid of the consequences of pollution and disease.
And I'm scared that my child won't live a long time
I worry that my child won't have a long or healthy life because of the violence, crime, and drug use in society.
With your murderin', rape and your drug money crime;
I'm scared of the violence, rape, and drug crimes that exist in society.
Scared of the drugs stealing youth from the young.
I'm afraid that drugs will ruin the lives of young people, robbing them of their future.
Well their life story; well that'll never be sung
I fear that the lives of those who fall victim to drugs, murder, and other crimes won't be celebrated or remembered.
And I pray my child lives happy and long,
I hope and pray that my child lives a happy and fulfilled life, free from harm.
And I hope she never will sing this song
I don't want my child to experience the fear, worry, and pain I'm expressing in this song.
Well as some men talk of peace now, good intentions.
While some people talk of peace and reconciliation, I'm skeptical of their true intentions.
I'm only gonna look at his latest inventions.
I'm watching closely to see what progress is being made and whether it will bring about real and lasting change.
Hope I'm wrong, Heard I'm right
I hope that I'm mistaken in my skepticism, but I fear that I'm correct in my doubts.
Man he could end it all tonight.
I'm aware of the potential for one person or one event to completely change the course of history, for better or for worse.
I know upon this night another village is burning;
I am aware that on this very night there are still people experiencing unspeakable horrors, such as the burning of villages.
Child lose their life as their first sun is turning;
I'm aware that innocent children are being killed, sometimes even before they've had a chance to experience the fullness of life.
Leaders of holocaust stand so tall;
I'm disgusted by those in power who perpetrate mass atrocities and genocide, and who act as if they are above all consequences and judgment.
Man it looks like there ain't no value in life at all
I feel like the world is becoming increasingly callous and indifferent to human life.
Well I pray my child will live happy and long, Lord,
Once again, I offer up my hope and prayer that my child will have a happy and fulfilling life, protected from harm.
And I hope she never will sing this song
I pray that my child never has to sing a song of fear and despair like this.
So lord please forgive me if my fear offend now
I ask for forgiveness if my fear and despair are offensive to anyone, but I'm overwhelmed and scared by what I see in the world.
It's just so hard to transcend now
It's difficult to break free from these negative emotions and see the good in the world.
Cause when i ran away from my bad dream
Even when I try to run away from my fears, they follow me and continue to affect my perspective.
The child inside was too scared and screamed
Despite putting on a brave face, I feel like a scared child inside, unable to escape the fear and despair.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAHER, Patrick Maher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind