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.
Closer To God
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you won't turn my water to wine
Now you don't handle me like that rosary
I've seen you carressing now and again
Is there one law for you and another for me?
Is it written in some ancient text?
Are the wings of retreat well attached to your feet?
Do you think of me often when you're with your friend?
Are you closer to God than the folk you despise?
Are we closer to God than the ants and the flies?
Is your idea of heaven my idea of hell?
When you get to those gates will your friend come as well?
Will the good lord preserve you in pickle or brine?
Well if I catch you first then he won't get the time
I'm all out of pity, you're all out of line
But remember you used to be mine
Remember you used to be mine
Are you closer to God than the folk you despise?
Are we closer to God than the ants and the flies?
Is your idea of heaven my idea of hell?
When you get to those gates will your friend come as well?
Does the lord keep you warm in her bed every night?
Are your prayers in the morning just squeals of delight?
Has my mind disappeared now the flesh is so weak?
I notice you always say nothing to me
I notice that we never speak
I notice that we never speak
I notice that we never speak
The lyrics in Kirsty MacColl's song Closer to God raise questions about the nature of faith, morality, and power dynamics between people. It seems that the singer once had a relationship with someone who had a lot of control and influence over her, to the point where they turned her "dreams into nightmares." But even though this person had a sort of spiritual power over the singer, they couldn't actually perform miracles like turning water into wine. Instead of treating the singer with reverence (like a rosary), the person seems to have been using her for their own pleasure, and possibly treating others with similar disrespect. The singer wonders if there's some sort of "ancient text" that justifies this person's actions, or whether they're just exploiting their own power. She also wonders if this person thinks of her when they're with their other friends, or if they feel any guilt or unease about their behavior.
The singer then proceeds to ask a series of questions about faith and morality, wondering if the person she's singing to is actually closer to God than the people they despise. She also wonders whether their idea of heaven is compatible with hers (as hell), or whether they engage in morally questionable behavior while they think they're being virtuous. The singer concludes by wondering if the person's prayers are genuine expressions of devotion, or just "squeals of delight," and whether their physical attraction to her has clouded their judgment.
Overall, the song seems to be a meditation on power dynamics, morality, and faith. It raises questions about who has the right to claim spiritual authority, and who is actually behaving in a moral way, even when they think they are.
Line by Line Meaning
You turned all my dreams into nightmares
You ruined everything that I had hoped for
But you won't turn my water to wine
You can't perform miracles to fix what you've broken
Now you don't handle me like that rosary
You don't use me as a source of comfort like a prayer bead anymore
I've seen you carressing now and again
I've witnessed you intimately touching someone else
Is there one law for you and another for me?
Do you have special treatment or privileges that I don't?
Is it written in some ancient text?
Is the reason for the double standard rooted in tradition or history?
Are the wings of retreat well attached to your feet?
Do you always have an escape plan in case things go wrong?
Do you think of me often when you're with your friend?
Do I ever cross your mind when you're with someone else?
Do you cringe a bit now and again?
Do you feel guilty or ashamed of your actions sometimes?
Are you closer to God than the folk you despise?
Do you believe that you're morally superior to those you dislike?
Are we closer to God than the ants and the flies?
Is there value in all living beings regardless of their size or intelligence?
Is your idea of heaven my idea of hell?
Do our beliefs and desires about the afterlife differ greatly?
When you get to those gates will your friend come as well?
Will the people you associate with be judged and accepted by God too?
Will the good lord preserve you in pickle or brine?
Will God keep you safe and alive or let you die and decay?
Well if I catch you first then he won't get the time
If I get to punish you first, you won't have to face God's judgement
I'm all out of pity, you're all out of line
I don't have any sympathy left for you and you've crossed the line
But remember you used to be mine
Don't forget that we had something special before you betrayed me
Does the lord keep you warm in her bed every night?
Do you feel comforted and loved by God every night?
Are your prayers in the morning just squeals of delight?
Are your expressions of gratitude and worship genuine or fake?
Has my mind disappeared now the flesh is so weak?
Has your opinion of me changed because of my physical or mental state?
I notice you always say nothing to me
I've observed that you avoid communicating with me
I notice that we never speak
I've realized that we have lost the ability to have a meaningful conversation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kirsty Mac Coll
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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