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
Promised Land
Paddy Casey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sure not feeling tall
Sure that you are not feeling me at all
You know I could be right sure that I'm not wrong
But I'm sure that time was meant for more than just getting along
So let's not just get along
Let's get along in style
'Cause you know I'm pretty sure this is more worthwhile
'Cause love was meant to live
And not merely just to dwell
No just to dwell
So tonight I want to be that line
The one that I just sold out
Tonight I want to be that story
The one that I just told you
Let's take it to the land of fantasy
Where all things are real
Where the enemy's not a ghost
But one you can touch and feel
And the chains they are not mental
But their only made of steel
And the magic's elemental and the right words can heal
Let's become that dignity
Become that grace
It's time to light your candles in a dark and lonely place
The song Promised Land by Paddy Casey may seem like a simple love song at first glance, but a closer analysis of the lyrics reveal a deeper message about the importance of living life to the fullest and not settling for mediocrity. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer expressing feelings of insecurity and a desire for a more meaningful existence. He knows that life is meant for so much more than just going through the motions, and he implores his partner to join him in living life to the fullest. The chorus reinforces this message, urging his partner to do more than just "get along" in life, but to "get along in style", suggesting that they should be making the most of their time together.
The second verse takes this message even further, imagining a world where anything is possible and where the limitations of reality don't exist. The singer wants to escape to a "land of fantasy" where love is powerful enough to overcome any obstacle and where words truly have the power to heal. This dream is a powerful metaphor for the idea that we should strive to create our own realities and not let the constraints of the world hinder us. The final lines of the song are perhaps the most powerful, with the singer encouraging his partner and himself to "become that dignity" and "become that grace", embodied by the candles that are lit in the midst of darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sure not feelin' tough
I don't feel strong or confident
Sure not feeling tall
I don't feel elevated or important
Sure that you are not feeling me at all
I'm convinced that you don't understand or acknowledge me
You know I could be right sure that I'm not wrong
I believe I might be correct, but I'm aware that I could be mistaken
But I'm sure that time was meant for more than just getting along
I firmly believe that life has a higher purpose than just surviving
So let's not just get along
Let's not settle for mediocrity and monotony
Let's get along in style
Let's approach life with creativity and originality
'Cause you know I'm pretty sure this is more worthwhile
I'm convinced that pursuing a fulfilling life is more meaningful
So I think it's time we gave this thing the hard sell
I believe it's time to promote and advocate for what we truly value
'Cause love was meant to live
I believe that love is meant to be active and vibrant
And not merely just to dwell
It's not enough for love to just exist, it should thrive
No just to dwell
Love must be more than just inhabiting a space
So tonight I want to be that line
I want to be that memorable and impactful statement
The one that I just sold out
The one that I just fully endorsed and committed to
Tonight I want to be that story
I want to be the narrative that resonates with people
The one that I just told you
The one that I just shared with you
Let's take it to the land of fantasy
Let's explore the possibilities beyond reality
Where all things are real
Where imagination and creativity are valued and embraced
Where the enemy's not a ghost
Where obstacles aren't just imaginary or intangible
But one you can touch and feel
But something that you can physically experience
And the chains they are not mental
The limitations are not just in our minds
But their only made of steel
They might be tangible and challenging but not impossible to overcome
And the magic's elemental and the right words can heal
Our environment and words have the power to have a transformative effect
Let's become that dignity
Let's embody poise and respectability
Become that grace
Let's display elegance and courteousness
It's time to light your candles in a dark and lonely place
It's time to bring positivity and hope to a negative environment
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: KARL HYDE, RICHARD DAVID SMITH, ALFIE THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kleptohr
Love this song!
Keith Kearney
Paddy's the man