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
Leaving
Paddy Casey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But inside these walls, they are taking yours away
And there in the dawn's calls, drifting out over it all
You are lying in the shadows ?neath the window
And you are leaving
This long day is gonna test your heart again
And though you are just a boy, they will hurt you as a man
And leave you naked and bleeding in the doorway
But you are leaving
And what they just don't really see
Is that you are already free
And I know that you feel, that your time, it is not long
There is maybe just enough, for this one last song
So there in the cold night, you close your eyes and you take to flight
And you are singing in the darkness ?neath the window
And you are leaving
Your words escaped, through the cracks in the wall
Just like birds they flew and they move above it all
So there in the cold night, you close your eyes and you take to flight
And you are hoping through the gaps in the steel
And you are leaving
And what they just don't really see
Is that you are already free
And what they just don't really see
Is that you are already free
The song "Leaving" by Paddy Casey tells the story of a person who is trapped in a situation where their freedom and dignity are being stripped away. The first verse sets the scene, describing a mundane morning while hinting at the hidden struggle within the walls. The line "they are taking yours away" suggests that something is being actively stolen from the singer, and the fact that they are lying in the shadows beneath the window adds to the feeling of confinement and secrecy. The chorus, with the repetition of "but you are leaving", shows the singer's determination to break free from their situation, no matter how difficult it may be.
The second verse expands on the struggle and the pain that the singer faces. They are still young, but they are forced to endure the harshness of adulthood. The line "if they can steal your dignity and leave you naked and bleeding in the doorway" is a powerful image, and it shows just how much the singer is up against. However, the chorus, with its repetition of the line "you are already free", suggests that the singer has already made up their mind to leave, and that their freedom is more important than anything else.
The final verse is a bit more hopeful. The singer knows that their time is running out, but they still have one last song to sing. The act of singing in the darkness is an act of defiance and hope, as the singer takes to flight and leaves their situation behind. The final repetition of "you are already free" is a reminder that no matter how difficult the journey may be, the singer has already achieved something important – their freedom.
Overall, "Leaving" is a powerful song that tells the story of a person who is determined to break free from a difficult situation, even if it means enduring pain and suffering. It's a reminder that even in the darkest moments, hope and freedom are possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Sun comes up and life goes on its way
Life continues on as normal, even though something is happening within these walls that is taking away a part of you
But inside these walls, they are taking yours away
Even though life goes on outside of these walls, inside they are taking something from you
And there in the dawn's calls, drifting out over it all
In the early morning light, your pain and suffering is consuming everything around you
You are lying in the shadows ?neath the window
You are hidden away, feeling alone and forgotten
And you are leaving
Despite everything that is happening to you, you are leaving this situation behind
This long day is gonna test your heart again
Today will be another day that challenges you emotionally and mentally
And though you are just a boy, they will hurt you as a man
Despite being young, you will be forced to endure suffering that will make you feel like a grown man
And they will come again to see, if they can steal your dignity
They will keep coming back to try and take away your sense of self-worth and pride
And leave you naked and bleeding in the doorway
They will hurt you so much that you will feel exposed and vulnerable to the world
But you are leaving
Despite their attempts to harm you, you are leaving this situation behind
And what they just don't really see
Those who are hurting you do not understand
Is that you are already free
You have already escaped their control and are free to leave this situation
And I know that you feel, that your time, it is not long
You feel that your time is running out and this situation will not last forever
There is maybe just enough, for this one last song
You feel that there is only enough time for one last moment of freedom
So there in the cold night, you close your eyes and you take to flight
In the darkness, you close your eyes and allow yourself to escape
And you are singing in the darkness ?neath the window
As you make your escape, you sing in defiance of those who have hurt you
Your words escaped, through the cracks in the wall
Your defiance spreads beyond these walls and reaches those who are outside of your situation
Just like birds they flew and they move above it all
Your defiance takes on a life of its own, rising above the pain and suffering
And you are hoping through the gaps in the steel
You are breaking free from the confines of your situation and finding hope once again
And what they just don't really see
Those who have hurt you do not understand
Is that you are already free
You have already escaped their control and are free to leave this situation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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