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.
Celestine
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's just a wild and wicked slut
And she lives inside my head and stops me sleeping
And when I think she's finally gone
Some guy arrives and turns her on
Then she parties until dawn
This can't go on Celestine
You're killing me so slowly
So many men, so many fights
So many parties and late nights
She plumbs the depths and hits the heights
That Celestine
She pretends that she can't hear me
She pretends she's nowhere near me
She just goes quiet and pretends
That she's not in
But Celestine, I know you're there
In your exotic underwear
And you are fixing up your hair now, Celestine
Celestine
Get out my dreams
You're killing me so slowly
My lover looked into my eyes
And I could tell by his surprise
It was not me he saw in there but Celestine
And now it's her that he lusts after
I can hear that wicked laughter
Still he comes to me but I know where he's been
Celestine
Get out my dreams
You're killing me so slowly
Celestine
Get out my dreams
You're killing me so slowly
My lover hasn't got a clue
He doesn't know that he's untrue
And it's not me he makes love to but Celestine
Oh, yes she's hot, she's hot, she's hot
I guess she's everything I'm not
And she lives inside my head and stops me sleeping
In Kirsty MacColl's song "Celestine", the singer is describing a wild and promiscuous alter ego named Celestine who exists within her own head. She recounts how Celestine stops her from sleeping and takes over, causing her to party until the early hours of the morning. The singer is aware of the destructive nature of Celestine's behaviour and wants her to leave her dreams so she can regain control.
The song touches on the struggle many individuals face with their inner demons, and the difficulty in controlling them. Celestine embodies the part of us that desires to indulge in reckless behaviour, despite the potential consequences. The singer's lover is also affected by Celestine's influence, as he begins to see her instead of the singer, which highlights the way in which destructive behaviour can infect our relationships.
Overall, "Celestine" is a powerful exploration of the darker parts of ourselves that we try to suppress or ignore, and the damage that they can cause if left unchecked.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh she is hot, she's hot, she's hot
Celestine is a temptress, who is wild and irresistible.
She's just a wild and wicked slut
Celestine is immoral and has no boundaries.
And she lives inside my head and stops me sleeping
The singer is haunted by Celestine and cannot get her out of her mind.
And when I think she's finally gone
Some guy arrives and turns her on
Celestine is always present and can be triggered at any moment.
Then she parties until dawn
This can't go on Celestine
Celestine is a party animal and needs to stop.
Get out my dreams
You're killing me so slowly
The singer wants Celestine out of her thoughts, as she is causing her harm.
So many men, so many fights
So many parties and late nights
She plumbs the depths and hits the heights
That Celestine
Celestine has been with many men, caused many problems, and experienced the extremes of life.
She pretends that she can't hear me
She pretends she's nowhere near me
She just goes quiet and pretends
That she's not in
Celestine hides from the singer, but she knows she is still there.
But Celestine, I know you're there
In your exotic underwear
And you are fixing up your hair now, Celestine
The singer knows that Celestine is still around, and she takes care of herself.
My lover looked into my eyes
And I could tell by his surprise
It was not me he saw in there but Celestine
The singer's partner is being tempted by Celestine, and the singer knows it.
And now it's her that he lusts after
I can hear that wicked laughter
Still he comes to me but I know where he's been
The partner is now attracted to Celestine, but still comes to the singer, even though she knows the truth.
My lover hasn't got a clue
He doesn't know that he's untrue
And it's not me he makes love to but Celestine
The partner is oblivious to what is going on, and is unknowingly fooling around with Celestine.
I guess she's everything I'm not
Celestine has qualities that the singer does not.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KIRSTY ANNA MACCOLL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind