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.
Berlín
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love the sight and love the sound
I wish that I could stick around
Berlin
You never laid a mark on me
Well you're no gent if you know what I mean
Come and get your body fried
And see the wall electrified
Berlin
No rewards and no regrets
They're bricked up till the kids forget
Berlin
Climb at night and see the lights
Take your aim and set your sights
Berlin
Give me the reason
There is no answer
You ask her why
She is a strange dancer
Come and get your body fried
And see the wall electrified
Berlin
Give me the reason
There is no answer
You want a reason
Blood is a reason
No rewards and no regrets
They're bricked up till the kids forget
Berlin
Five nights I nearly ...
... yourselves in ...
And watch the boys as they go by
Berlin
Give me the reason
There is no answer
You ask her why
She is a strange dancer
Love the sight and love the sound
I wish that I could stick around
Berlin
Give me the reason
There is no answer
You want a reason
Blood is a reason
You never laid a mark on me
Well you're no gent if you know what I mean
Berlin
In Kirsty MacColl's song Berlin, the lyrics convey a sense of fascination and intrigue with the city of Berlin. The lines "Love the sight and love the sound, I wish that I could stick around" express a deep admiration for the city, while the lines "Come and get your body fried and see the wall electrified" suggest a certain rebelliousness and a desire to explore hidden corners of the city. The lyrics also reference the wall that once divided Berlin, with lines like "No rewards and no regrets, they're bricked up till the kids forget." This suggests a longing to understand the history of the city and its struggle for reunification.
The song's chorus repeats the line "Give me the reason, there is no answer," which is a reflection of the complex emotions and sense of mystery that Berlin evokes for the singer. The line "Blood is a reason" suggests that there may be darker, more complicated reasons behind the city's allure.
Overall, the lyrics of Berlin capture the sense of fascination, intrigue, and mystery that many people feel when they visit this historic city.
Line by Line Meaning
Love the sight and love the sound
Enjoy the appearance and sounds of Berlin
I wish that I could stick around
Are considering an extended stay in Berlin
You never laid a mark on me
Berlin didn't leave a lasting impression
Well you're no gent if you know what I mean
Berlin can be rough and unpleasant
Come and get your body fried
Experience the nightlife and party culture of Berlin
And see the wall electrified
Experience the emotional impact of the Berlin Wall, even though it's gone now
No rewards and no regrets
The past is the past, and they don't dwell on it
They're bricked up till the kids forget
The history of Berlin is preserved in the brick walls, but younger generations are growing up without firsthand experience
Climb at night and see the lights
Enjoy the nighttime views of the city
Take your aim and set your sights
Have aspirations and goals for your future in Berlin
Give me the reason
Searching for an explanation or justification
There is no answer
The reason they seek cannot be found
You ask her why
Inquiring about someone's behavior or actions
She is a strange dancer
The person being questioned is hard to understand or interpret
Five nights I nearly ...
Spent five uncertain nights ...
... yourselves in ...
Immersed themselves in the culture and atmosphere of Berlin
And watch the boys as they go by
Enjoyed observing the locals and their daily routines
You want a reason
Demanding an explanation or justification
Blood is a reason
Violence and conflict are often the reason for past events
Berlin
Repeating the title as a refrain throughout the song
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FalconWhite
I want the "Real" album so much! It's infuriating only having some of it while the rest is in limbo (so to speak).
Slapbass13
Yep, he's on the album!
Slapbass13
That must be Guy Pratt on bass. He's got such a distinctive style of playing. I'm going to go and check wikipedia.
Tony smith
Sounds much more like Pino Palladino to me.