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.
Don't Run Away From Me Now
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
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I'll say it again and I've said it before
We don't have a nickel to spend at the store
And don't run away from me now
Your daddy's gone looking to find him a job
Your grandmother's sent all her welfare to god
Your brother's been taking it out on the dog
There's you and your brothers and sisters to care for
But I don't know how when we ain't got the wherefor
So come let me hug you and show you what love's for
And don't run away from me now
The screaming and shouting's all done for today
I'll clear up the mess when you're all out the way
So give us a kiss 'cause there's nothing to say
But don't run away from me now
There's you and your brothers and sisters to care for
A whole lot of things that you should say your prayers for
So don't make a fuss now or I'll give you what for
Just don't run away from me now
Don't run away from me now
The lyrics of Kirsty MacColl's "Don't Run Away From Me Now" resonate with the struggles and challenges of a family who can barely make ends meet. The song is a poignant and heart-wrenching reminder of the hardships that so many families go through. The opening verse portrays the difficult realities of poverty while also asserting the repetition of these phrases. The reference to having "no nickel to spend at the store" highlights the financial troubles of the family, which creates a significant sense of urgency and pressure.
The second verse is about the family members who are struggling with the current unfavorable situation. The father figure of the family is searching for work unsuccessfully; the grandmother has contributed all her welfare money to charity, and the brother has taken out his frustrations on the family dog. The phrase "So don't run away from me now" becomes more meaningful as the song progresses, as it holds a sense of desperation and a plea for connection and survival.
The chorus highlights the weight and responsibility the singer feels as they try to care for and provide for a large family despite their financial struggles. The phrase, "But I don't know how when we ain't got the wherefor" illustrates their helplessness and desperation as they try to do what they can for the people they care for. Throughout the song, the message is loud and clear: don't run away from the ones you love, no matter how difficult things get.
Line by Line Meaning
It's time now to pick all the toys off the floor
Let's clean up the mess and get organized.
I'll say it again and I've said it before
I've talked about this already, but I need to remind you again.
We don't have a nickel to spend at the store
We don't have any money to buy things.
And don't run away from me now
Please don't leave me to deal with everything on my own.
Your daddy's gone looking to find him a job
Your father is out looking for work.
Your grandmother's sent all her welfare to god
Your grandmother has given her money to the church.
Your brother's been taking it out on the dog
Your brother is taking his frustrations out on the dog.
There's you and your brothers and sisters to care for
I have to take care of you and your siblings.
But I don't know how when we ain't got the wherefor
I'm not sure how to take care of you all without enough resources.
So come let me hug you and show you what love's for
Let me embrace you and show my affection.
The screaming and shouting's all done for today
The arguing and yelling is over for now.
I'll clear up the mess when you're all out the way
I'll clean up everything when you and your siblings leave the room.
So give us a kiss 'cause there's nothing to say
Let's show each other affection because there's no need for words right now.
But don't run away from me now
Just don't leave me alone in this difficult situation.
A whole lot of things that you should say your prayers for
There are many things we need to pray for.
So don't make a fuss now or I'll give you what for
Don't cause any trouble or I'll give you a punishment.
Just don't run away from me now
Stay with me and help me take care of everything.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KIRSTY MACCOLL, PHILIP RAMBOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Oliverama
It's actually the supplementary b - side to the 10" single
Andre Cálido CEO Oceana Records
Brilliant now as it was then