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.
Dear John
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hate to be the one to break the news
But it's concerning me and you
This is the letter no-one ever wants to write
You may not believe me but it's the hardest thing I've ever done
My eyes see other glories
Other dreams and other stories
And I want to live before I die
Ten years on
I still dream and we still hesitate
The passion's all but gone
Oh dear john
Seems we have a bad day every day
I want to sleep my life away
This is the letter no-one ever wants to read
And though it hurts like hell
It may be what you need to tell you
I never wanted to be cruel
But I'm so tired of being the strong one
And I don't always havet he energy
And you always leave it up to me
Dear john
My eyes have seen the glory
There's more to life than my life story
And I'll probably never find him
But I have to keep on looking
And I'm very very sorry dear john
The song "Dear John" by Kirsty MacColl is a letter from a woman to her partner, John, telling him that she needs to end their relationship. The lyrics reveal that the woman has been feeling unfulfilled and restless for a long time, and that despite her affection for John, she needs to move on and explore other opportunities. She describes how difficult it is for her to write this letter, and how much she cares for him, but ultimately she knows that staying together would be a disservice to both of them. The song is both sad and honest, and portrays the complicated emotions that come with the end of a long-term relationship.
The first verse sets the tone for the song, as the singer explains that she is writing a difficult letter to John, and that what she has to say will be hard to hear. She explains that she loves John, but that she has been feeling unfulfilled and that she wants to live a more exciting and meaningful life. Throughout the song, she grapples with the guilt and sadness of hurting someone she cares about deeply, but also the sense of relief that comes with being honest and true to oneself.
The second verse explores the long history of the relationship, and how despite the singer's efforts to keep the passion alive, the relationship has become stagnant and unfulfilling. She expresses her desire to escape the pain and start fresh, and acknowledges that ending things with John is the only way forward. The final lines of the song reveal that the singer is sorry for hurting John, but that she needs to keep searching for her own happiness and fulfillment.
Overall, "Dear John" is a poignant and bittersweet song about the end of a relationship. MacColl's lyrics are frank and honest, and the song's melody is haunting and melancholy. The song captures the complex emotions of loss, regret, and hope that come with a breakup, and reminds us that sometimes the greatest act of love is recognizing when it's time to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh dear john
The singer addresses John with regret and sadness.
I hate to be the one to break the news
The singer is hesitant to tell John the truth.
But it's concerning me and you
The singer's issue impacts both her and John.
This is the letter no-one ever wants to write
The singer recognizes the difficulty in conveying her message.
You may not believe me but it's the hardest thing I've ever done
Conveying this message is an emotional and difficult experience for the singer.
My eyes see other glories
The singer has aspirations and desires outside of her current relationship with John.
Other dreams and other stories
The singer has other life goals and projects she wants to pursue.
And I want to live before I die
The singer wants to experience everything that life has to offer.
Ten years on
A decade has passed since the beginning of the relationship.
I still dream and we still hesitate
The couple has not progressed and are still undecided about the future of their relationship.
The passion's all but gone
There is a lack of excitement and emotion in the relationship.
Seems we have a bad day every day
The couple is constantly struggling and not enjoying their time together.
I want to sleep my life away
The singer is disheartened and does not want to face reality.
This is the letter no-one ever wants to read
The singer knows that the message will be upsetting to John.
And though it hurts like hell
The singer recognizes the pain involved in this situation.
It may be what you need to tell you
The singer believes that honesty may be beneficial for John's growth and understanding.
I never wanted to be cruel
The singer's intentions were never to hurt John.
But I'm so tired of being the strong one
The singer has been trying to maintain composure for too long.
And I don't always have the energy
The confrontation has taken a lot out of the singer.
And you always leave it up to me
The singer feels burdened with the responsibilities of the relationship.
My eyes have seen the glory
The singer has experienced wonderful things in her life.
There's more to life than my life story
The singer realizes that she has a lot to discover and learn.
And I'll probably never find him
The singer might not find the partner she hopes for.
But I have to keep on looking
The singer recognizes the importance of searching for happiness and fulfillment.
And I'm very very sorry dear john
The singer expresses remorse towards John for having to end the relationship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KIRSTY ANNA MACCOLL, MARK EDWARD CASCIAN NEVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@solarexcuse
whenever I'm in a bad place mentally Kirsty Maccoll always cheers me up. What a talent.
@yosieposiejones6590
Agreed. The older I get, the more relevant her songs become to me, especially since my marriage dissolved and my experiences of being back in the dating game! 😂
@mikeclarke6796
Me too
@underwaterathlete7217
From Croyndon to Cuba...forever my personal idol. RIP, Kirsty.
@Belfastboi
Oh Thankyou for for this I didn’t even know it existed. Always wanted to hear her sing it
@lawnrocca
This is one of the most raw songs I ever heard when I first discovered it years ago. Kirsty McCall is singing it to her soon to be ex husband and father of her sons. It was tragic when you hear the words to think she was killed so senselessly only a few years later by a dodgy gangster who was allowing a young boy to steer his boat!!
@stefanthebass
Kirsty was for sure a gifted singer and I love her songs. But to be honest, I prefer the Eddie Reader version of this song, her version *really* moves me. Eddie's phrasing and the careful arragement are really brilliant. Thank you Kirsty for your song.
@JeremyPCresswell
Ahh, Kirsty. K M and Mick Ronson are the 2 most underated performers in the hisory of music. I miss them both!
@dizzywhore1804
Been waiting for this song to appear on here for years - thanks.
@AndyMossMetta
This song was new to me. A gentle and beautiful song. I am now wondering what other gems are to be found amongst the works of this remarkable songwriter.