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.
All I Ever Wanted
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I can see the truth
I'm not immune to the sorrow that you put me through
All I ever wanted
Was a little more respect from you
I used to love you
But now I feel abused
All I ever wanted
Was a little more respect from you
I'll never understand
The habits of a man out on the town
And where he hangs around
Now you think it over
Decide what to do
I couldn't fall for your story if I wanted to
All I ever wanted
Was a little more respect from you
I tried to make you see
That you were losing me but every day
You still went out to play
And now I'll say for the last time
You had the chance
And I won't dance for you baby like you want me to
All I ever wanted
Was a little more respect from you
All I ever wanted was a little more respect
Kirsty MacColl's song "All I Ever Wanted" is a poignant and vulnerable depiction of a woman who has been hurt by her partner's lack of respect. The song begins with the singer admitting that she is "nearly sober," which immediately gives the impression that she has been self-medicating with alcohol to cover up her pain. However, now that she is starting to sober up, she can see the truth about her partner's behavior towards her. She realizes that she is not immune to the sorrow that he has put her through, and all she ever wanted was a little more respect from him.
The second stanza of the song reveals that the singer used to love her partner, but now she feels abused. She admits that she was foolish to be blind to the things he does, indicating that she has finally woken up to his true character. Despite this, all she ever wanted was a little more respect from him.
The final stanza of the song indicates that the singer has reached the end of her rope. She no longer wants to dance for her partner or fall for his stories. She tried to make him see that he was losing her, but he continued to play around. Now, she is saying for the last time that all she ever wanted was a little more respect from him. The song ends with the simple repetition of this message, driving home the singer's vulnerability and the pain that she has been through.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm nearly sober
I'm no longer under the influence of anything which could cloud my judgement.
And I can see the truth
I can now see what’s true without having to rely on any preconceived notions or faulty beliefs.
I'm not immune to the sorrow that you put me through
You hurt me, and even though I may appear to be strong, I still feel the pain you caused.
All I ever wanted
I have a simple request that I’ve made clear from the start.
Was a little more respect from you
Your behavior has made me feel undervalued and unappreciated. I just want you to treat me with more regard.
I used to love you
There was a time when I cared deeply for you and your well-being.
But now I feel abused
Your actions have led me to feel like you’re taking advantage of my feelings for you.
I was a fool to be blind to the things you do
I realize now that I should have seen through your false behavior earlier.
I'll never understand
There are some things you do that I can’t comprehend no matter how much I try.
The habits of a man out on the town
I don’t get why you do things that have such a negative impact on our relationship when you go out and socialize.
And where he hangs around
I’m also curious about the company you keep as I fear they may be a bad influence on you.
Now you think it over
I’ve presented you with the facts, so I want you to take the time to reflect on what I’ve said.
Decide what to do
It’s up to you to make a choice about how you want to proceed with our relationship.
I couldn't fall for your story if I wanted to
Even if I wanted to believe the explanations you provide, I can’t find it in myself to do so since your behavior indicates otherwise.
I tried to make you see
I’ve done my best to make you aware of the impact of your actions on our relationship.
That you were losing me but every day
Your behavior was pushing me away, but you didn’t seem to grasp the severity of the situation.
You still went out to play
Regardless of the evidence that your behavior was harming our relationship, you still persisted with it without any regard for my feelings.
And now I'll say for the last time
This is the final moment when I will speak up about how I truly feel.
You had the chance
I’ve presented you with numerous opportunities to change your behavior, but you didn’t take them.
And I won't dance for you baby like you want me to
I’m not going to conform to your expectations and give you what you want when it compromises my values and self-respect.
All I ever wanted
The only thing I’ve ever requested from you is this.
Was a little more respect from you
I simply need you to regard me with more esteem and recognize my worth.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KIRSTY MACCOLL, MARSHALL CRENSHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Van Gower
When the news of Kirsty's death first broke in 2000, I was inconsolable. I grew up in Mississippi, so radio there wasn't very diverse. I'd discovered Kirsty through the "She's Having A Baby" soundtrack and fell hopelessly, irreversibly, gloriously in love, and I sought out her music as much as I could in those days from my hometown. This beautiful, brilliant lady took me by storm, and I was bereft with grief when she died. I still grieve the loss of what could have been had she lived on to create more beautiful, clever, snarky music. Her sense of humor is well-known; and judging from her videos (even in Bragg's "Sexuality") she was a top-notch comedienne. Her death was one of the first celebrity deaths that I felt personally, that hurt the most, and I still love her music and I'm just grateful to still be able to blast it at top volume and sing along to something that makes me very happy.
Xan Sprouse
I was too. My boyfriend at the time came to me and held my hands and said " I have to tell you something and you need to sit down." He told me what happened (Guillermo Gonzalez Nova MURDERED her) and I broke down in tears. To this day I can't listen to Fairytale of New York without crying since her death was so close to christmas.
Paul Berk
Same here. Inconsolable is the word.
mark house
I was in shock. Couldn't believe what I was hearing or reading about the news of her Death.
Still unbelievable to this day.
Sadly it was only after her demise
That I really discovered all these fantastic tracks, her Album's of course. And her legacy.
What a Voice. What a songwriter.
Just so sad She s no longer hear to realise how loved she is by fans of her & her music.
Esme Rylan
That's where I first heard her too- I was a huge Smiths fan and the idea of someone else covering their music was what got me interested. At first I didn't like how she changed the order of the verses so drastically but I came to love her version, and when Kite came out I was hooked, she deserved to be regarded in the same league as Elvis Costello or Morrissey. Hell, her best songs (and there are so many!) are vastly better than anything those guys ever did- I'd argue her collaborations with Johnny Marr (especially "Can't Stop Killing You") are better than the entire Smiths discography. I wish she was still here now making great records and taking the piss out of Morrissey for turning into a fascist asshole.
Elmore van dodewaard
Great artist. Selfmade woman and totaly original xx
JJ skyflyer
great video and great song. she was so talented. we are lucky to have the music she created
Ranjit Dighe
Great song, great and duly credited use of Marshall Crenshaw's melody (from We're Gonna Shake Up Their Minds). Another Kirsty video that showcases her sense of humor.
All Hands on Deck!
Wit, heart, music, beauty. An immortal talent.
Underwater Athlete
THANK YOU for posting! One of the few I'd never before seen. Brilliant.