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.
Darling
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's make one soon on our second honeymoon
Darling, I need you to be near me
To kiss and to touch, I love you very much
Darling, if you ever leave me
I'll cry a million tears
I'll go to the nearest boozer
Darling, let's have another baby
Let's make one soon on our second honeymoon
Darling, I need you to be near me
To kiss and to touch, I love you very much
Darling, if you ever leave me
I'll cry a million tears
I'll go to the nearest boozer
And drink ten pints of beer
Darling, let's have another baby
Let's make one soon on our second honeymoon
Darling, when we have our baby
I'll be quite happy to wash and change its nappy
Darling, oh
Darling, oh
Darling, oh
Darling, oh
The lyrics to Kirsty MacColl's song "Darling" tell a story of a couple deeply in love, who are contemplating having another baby. The first verse describes the desire to create new life and highlights the idea of a "second honeymoon", which implies that this is not the couple's first child. The chorus emphasizes the importance of physical contact and love, with the repeated phrase "I need you to be near me, to kiss and to touch, I love you very much."
The second verse starts on a darker note, with the singer warning of the devastating consequences if her partner were to ever leave her. The use of alcohol as a coping mechanism also implies that the singer is struggling with her emotions and would turn to unhealthy habits in the face of heartbreak. However, this is juxtaposed with the hopeful sentiment of the chorus, which continues to reinforce the couple's love and desire for another child. The final line of the song suggests that the singer is willing to take on the challenges of parenthood gladly, cementing the idea of family and togetherness.
In summary, "Darling" is a love song that explores the desire to start a family and the fear of losing one's partner. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but the emotions conveyed are powerful and universal.
Line by Line Meaning
Darling, let's have another baby
The singer is suggesting that she and her partner have another child.
Let's make one soon on our second honeymoon
The singer is proposing that they try to conceive a child during their upcoming vacation together.
Darling, I need you to be near me
The singer expresses her desire for her partner's physical presence, specifically to kiss and touch them, emphasizing how much she loves them.
To kiss and to touch, I love you very much
The singer reiterates her love for her partner and the need for physical affection between them.
Darling, if you ever leave me
The singer is expressing her fears of abandonment and separation from her partner.
I'll cry a million tears
If her partner ever leaves her, the singer will be incredibly sad and heartbroken.
I'll go to the nearest boozer
If her partner ever leaves her, the singer will go to the nearest bar or pub to drink alcohol as a way to cope with the pain of the situation.
And drink ten pints of beer
As a coping mechanism for her partner leaving, the singer will drink a significant amount of alcohol at the nearest bar or pub.
Darling, when we have our baby
The singer is referring to the upcoming birth of their child and the joy it will bring.
I'll be quite happy to wash and change its nappy
The singer expresses her willingness to take care of and nurture their child.
Darling, oh
The singer affectionately addresses her partner.
Darling, oh
The singer affectionately addresses her partner.
Darling, oh
The singer affectionately addresses her partner.
Darling, oh
The singer affectionately addresses her partner.
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.