MacColl began her career in the late 1970s UK punk rock scene, singing backing vocals for Drug Addix. Her UK hits included the 1981 single "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis", a cover of Billy Bragg's "A New England" in 1985, a duet with Shane MacGowan of The Pogues on "Fairytale of New York" in 1987, and a cover of The Kinks' song "Days" in 1989. She was probably most recognizable in the United States as the writer of "They Don't Know" a hit in 1979.
After a break from the music industry for much of the 1990s, several trips to Cuba and Brazil restored MacColl's creative muse, and the world music-inspired (particularly Cuban and other Latin American forms) Tropical Brainstorm, often described as her finest work, was released in 2000.
On 18 December 2000, while swimming in a restricted diving area with her family on a holiday in Cozumel, she was killed in a collision with a powerboat while managing to drag her son out of its path. The boat was owned by Mexican supermarket millionaire Guillermo González Nova (owner of Comercial Mexicana), who was on board with several members of his family. A boathand, José Cen Yam, claimed to have been driving the boat and was found guilty of culpable homicide and, under Mexican law, allowed to pay a fine of 1034 pesos (about USD 90) in lieu of a prison sentence of that many days. However, eyewitnesses contradict Cen Yam's claim to have been driving and also González Nova's claim that the boat was travelling at a speed of only one knot. MacColl's family are campaigning for a judicial review into the events surrounding her death, including an application to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The BBC has featured on several of its channels a documentary by Olivia Lichtenstein, entitled Who Killed Kirsty MacColl?
In 2001, a bench was placed by the southern entrance to London's Soho Square as a memorial to her, after a lyric from one of her most poignant songs: "One day I'll be waiting there/ No empty bench inSoho Square.
A New England
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm twenty two now, but I won't be for long
People ask when will you grow up to be a man
But all the girls I loved at school
Are already pushing prams
I loved you then as I love you still
Tho I put you on a pedestal,
I don't feel bad about letting you go
I just feel sad about letting you know
I don't want to change the world
I'm not looking for a new England
I'm just looking for another girl
I don't want to change the world
I'm not looking for a new England
I'm just looking for another girl
I loved the words you wrote to me
But that was bloody yesterday
I can't survive on what you send
Every time you need a friend
I saw two shooting stars last night
I wished on them but they were only satellites
Is it wrong to wish on space hardware
I wish, I wish, I wish you'd care
I don't want to change the world
I'm not looking for a new England
I'm just looking for another girl
Kirsty MacColl's song "A New England" features a nostalgic and reflective tone throughout the lyrics. The first verse describes the frustration that many young people experience when being questioned about when they will grow up and become mature adults. The singer reveals that although he is no longer twenty-one years old and is now twenty-two, he still isn't sure when he will feel like a grown-up. He laments that the girls that he fell in love with in school, who he still holds in high regard, are now mothers. This line captures the melancholic sense of time slipping away, a common feeling among young adults.
In the second verse, the singer discusses a former love interest. The lines "I loved you then as I love you still/Tho I put you on a pedestal,/They put you on the pill" suggest that their relationship may have been thwarted by societal pressures or misunderstandings. He then admits that he doesn't feel bad about letting her go, but he does feel sad about letting her know.
Finally, the refrain "I don't want to change the world/I'm not looking for a new England/I'm just looking for another girl" reveals the singer's mindset. He isn't interested in grandiose achievements or sweeping changes, but instead, he wants something simple and attainable. This line conveys a lack of direction or purpose that many young people experience, where they are searching for something, but they aren't entirely sure what it is yet.
Line by Line Meaning
I was twenty one years when I wrote this song
I wrote this song when I was younger and more idealistic
I'm twenty two now, but I won't be for long
I'm getting older and maturing, but still not old enough to be taken seriously as an adult
People ask when will you grow up to be a man
There is societal pressure to grow up and fulfill certain expectations of adulthood
But all the girls I loved at school / Are already pushing prams
The people who I loved and who were my peers are already settled down and raising families, which makes me feel behind or left out
I loved you then as I love you still / Tho I put you on a pedestal, / They put you on the pill / I don't feel bad about letting you go / I just feel sad about letting you know
I still care for you, but the societal expectations and external forces that affected our relationship were too much for us to overcome. I don't regret ending things, but it does make me sad to think about
I don't want to change the world / I'm not looking for a new England / I'm just looking for another girl
I'm not trying to be a revolutionary or change the world. I'm just looking for companionship and love like anyone else
I loved the words you wrote to me / But that was bloody yesterday / I can't survive on what you send / Every time you need a friend
I appreciate the affection you showed me, but I need more than just words to sustain a relationship. I can't be your emotional support whenever you need me and have nothing in return
I saw two shooting stars last night / I wished on them but they were only satellites / Is it wrong to wish on space hardware / I wish, I wish, I wish you'd care
I saw something beautiful and wished for something more, even if it's unrealistic. I wish you would care about me and our relationship like I do
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Billy Bragg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hawsrulebegin7768
Can’t believe it’s been 23 yrs since the tragic passing of Kirsty. She’s still missed by music lovers of taste. Love to her family, especially her sons.
@willwilkinson1618
Revisiting this as I couldn't listen to her for ages after her death, too soon, absolute heroine, "no greater love".
@Jay-sg2ko
She would be 64 now. So sad to think. My mum introduced me to Kirsty when I was a child.
@susanmillar3455
It's now 23 years ago this December 18th 2023 she died prematurely on my fiancé's birthday. May she rest in peace 23 years on.
@aaronjones7260
I knew her. She was honestly the loveliest, bubbliest person ever, I turned 11 the day she died, my mum was distraught when the news reached us 😢 always think about her boys this time of year, she adored those two.
@catenaccio_fc
@@Jay-sg2ko😢
@rayoflight9709
I'm an Aussie ,just want to thank great Britain for all the different styles of music your country has produced.
@ukguy6762
Well thanks ray...we also hold the candle that’s produced the best bands the world has ever seen!! Have a nice day mate 👍
@pheonix9846
All of our english bands are great, no offence to other countries but u just cant beat the english spirit
@David-sv7by
Thank you that is a very gracious thing to say. I wish we English were better at being gracious in dealing with others.