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.
Caroline
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She called me up the other day
And left a message on my machine
She called to say you broke her heart
And she'd wondered if I'd seen you
I didn't know what to do, I never called her back
Oh how can I break the news like that
Now I don't want to see caroline
Don't want to see her face when she finds out you're mine
Can't look in her eyes and tell her love is blind
Now I don't want to see caroline
I don't want to see caroline
How can I want you so bad
She has to lose again
How could you walk out on her
And turn to her best friend
It was wrong from the start
I wish I'd turned you away
And my head said go, but my heart, my heart said stay
And now I don't want to see caroline
Don't want to see her cry when she knows you're mine
Can't look in those eyes and tell her she'll be fine
Now I don't want to see caroline
I don't want to see caroline
I'm so ashamed of myself that I still want you
What a terrible thing for a friend to do
I think I've gone too far this time
I leapt across that thin blue line
God help this selfish heart of mine
Now I don't want to see caroline
I can never face caroline
Now I lie here with you, can't get her out my head
Do you think she knows that you share my bed
Well I don't want to see caroline
Don't want to see her face when she finds out you're mine
How could a friend be so unkind
Well I don't want to see caroline
I don't want to see caroline
I don't want to see caroline
I don't want to see caroline
The song "Caroline" by Kirsty MacColl tells the story of a woman who receives a call from her friend's ex-lover. He confesses that he has fallen for her and they are now dating. The singer feels guilty that she is seeing her best friend's ex-boyfriend and fears confronting her friend about the situation. She is conflicted between following her heart and being a good friend.
The lyrics touch on themes of guilt, betrayal, and the complexity of human emotions. The singer's internal struggle is palpable, as she grapples with her feelings for this man and her loyalty to her friend. MacColl's delivery of the lyrics is incredibly emotive, with her voice conveying the turmoil and distress of the situation.
Overall, "Caroline" is a poignant and heartfelt song that explores the intricacies of human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
She called me up the other day
The woman Caroline called the singer recently and spoke to her through an answering machine.
And left a message on my machine
Caroline could not reach the singer in person and instead left a message on her answering machine.
She called to say you broke her heart
Caroline reported to the singer that the man they are both interested in has caused her emotional pain.
And she'd wondered if I'd seen you
Caroline asked the singer if she had been in contact or had spoken to the man they both know.
I didn't know what to do, I never called her back
The singer admits that she was uncertain how to deal with the situation and did not return Caroline's call.
Oh how can I break the news like that
The singer is hesitant to be the one to inform Caroline of the situation because it may cause her pain.
Now I don't want to see caroline
The singer is conflicted and does not want to face Caroline as she knows the truth about the man.
Don't want to see her face when she finds out you're mine
The singer is afraid of the moment when Caroline will learn that the man she cares for is now with the singer instead.
Can't look in her eyes and tell her love is blind
The singer cannot bear to face Caroline's hurt and tells her that love is unpredictable and uncontrollable.
How can I want you so bad
The singer is questioning her own motives as she is drawn to a man who has already caused pain to Caroline and is also her friend.
She has to lose again
The singer is aware that Caroline has suffered heartbreak before and feels sad that she is now experiencing hurt once more.
How could you walk out on her
The singer is disappointed with the man's behavior and questions why he would leave Caroline in such a way.
And turn to her best friend
The singer is frustrated and angry that the man has chosen to pursue a relationship with her, Caroline's friend, after leaving her.
It was wrong from the start
The singer realizes that the situation is unfair and that pursuing this man was a bad decision from the beginning.
I wish I'd turned you away
The singer wishes she had rejected the man's advances and avoided the current situation altogether.
And my head said go, but my heart, my heart said stay
The singer faced an inner struggle and was torn between what her mind told her to do and what her emotions compelled her to do.
I'm so ashamed of myself that I still want you
The singer feels guilt and remorse for still being attracted to the man, despite knowing the hurt he has caused Caroline and her own self-doubts.
What a terrible thing for a friend to do
The singer acknowledges that pursuing a romantic relationship with the man who hurt her friend is not a good action to take as a friend.
I think I've gone too far this time
The singer realizes that she may have crossed a line in her relationship with this man and with Caroline as a friend.
I leapt across that thin blue line
The singer metaphorically describes crossing a boundary or limits that should not be crossed, risking the loss of a friendship and causing hurt to Caroline.
God help this selfish heart of mine
The singer asks for divine assistance to overcome her selfish actions and to learn how to treat her friends with the respect they deserve.
Now I lie here with you, can't get her out my head
The singer admits that she is still thinking about Caroline and her feelings while engaged in a physical relationship with the man who caused her hurt.
Do you think she knows that you share my bed
The singer is worried that Caroline may find out about her relationship with the man and be hurt once again because of it.
Well I don't want to see caroline
The singer repeats her discomfort with facing Caroline in person and communicating the difficult truth to her.
How could a friend be so unkind
The singer is questioning her own actions and is self-critical of how she has treated her friend Caroline, being unkind and causing her more pain.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KIRSTY MACCOLL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rw8733
Beautiful Kirsty. God bless you 😢
@vienna227
Probably my favourite Kirsty track. In a perfect world this would have been a massive hit for her.
@Schwenck66
Utterly Brilliant. Kirsty is ludicrously unappreciated songwriter.
@nycdude999
This song had "major hit single" written all over it, and yet it wasn't. Kirsty was one of the most under appreciated talents of the 80s and 90s.
@kethry25
One of the best song-writer ever. I miss her.
@davidbecker8227
I still tear up when I hear this song. How could someone so beautiful be taken so early.
@marclawrence66
Heaven and back in less than 3 minutes. Just listen to those harmony vocals. One of the purest, most perfect pop songs you are ever likely to hear.
@annefinlayson6021
Couldn't agree more Marc Lawrence, she was, and is a star, in every sense of the word !!
@davidmaurer8644
This is damn near perfection as far as pop songwriting goes. Not a wasted note, nor a false lyric and the Phil Spector 'Wall of Sound' style production bowls you over with the big sound. Love the way Kirsty stacks her vocals for those how-many-part harmonies. I think she must have listened to a lot of Beach Boys.
@1tishhead
David Maurer this was the door that opened into kirstyworld for me. this song was on a compilation I picked up. the sound, the voice and mostly the sly heart and intelligence of the lyrics compelled me to seek more. I was not disappointed.