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.
Free World
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought of you when they closed down the school
And the hospital too
Did they think that you were better?
They were wrong
You had so many friends
They all left you in the end
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united by a struggle
Going down
You've got to walk into the water
With your sister and your daughter
In this free world
If I wore your shades could I share your point of view?
Could I make you feel better?
Paint a picture, write a letter?
Well I know what you're saying
But I see the things you do
And it's much too dangerous
To get closer to you
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united by the struggle
Going down
With a pocketful of plastic
Like a dollar on elastic
In this free world
(I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care)
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united by the struggle
And the ghettoes are full of mercedes benz
And you'd never hurt a friend
Who wouldn't tell you
It's cold and it's going to get colder
You may not get much older
You're much too scared of living
And to die is a reliable exit
So you push it and you test it
With 'thunderbird' and 'rivin'
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united in the struggle
In this free world baby
Got to take it got to grab it
Got to get it up and shag it
In this free world
Going down
You've got to get into the water
Like a lamb goes to the slaughter
In this free world baby
Going down
With a pocketful of plastic
Like a dollar on elastic
In this free world
(I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care)
The song "Free World" is a deeply introspective and critical song that tackles several social and political issues. It starts with Kirsty MacColl addressing the closing of the school and the hospital and asking whether those in power thought that leaving people without access to those important services was better. She then talks about a friend whom everyone abandoned, maybe because they couldn't handle their issues. Kirsty sees the struggles of the friend and empathizes with them, wishing she could share their point of view and help them feel better. But she knows that getting involved in their life is "too dangerous" for her.
The chorus of the song is a call for unity in times of struggle, especially for women and children. She talks about walking into the water with one's sister and daughter, where water is likely symbolic of hardships and struggles. Despite the struggles, it is essential to keep fighting for a better life, and in this free world, one must "take it, grab it, and shag it," a nod to the idea that people must seize the opportunities that come by.
Overall, "Free World" is a song that encourages people to fight for freedom and unity actively. Kirsty MacColl critiques the problems in society, including the lack of access to healthcare and education, struggles with addiction, and problems with friends and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought of you when they closed down the school
I remembered you when the school and hospital closed down.
And the hospital too
Also, the hospital closed down.
Did they think that you were better?
Did they believe that you were superior or more deserving than the others?
They were wrong
They were mistaken in their belief about you.
You had so many friends
You had many friends previously.
They all left you in the end
However, they all abandoned you finally.
'cause they couldn't stand the patter
Because they couldn't tolerate your behavior or talk.
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
I will meet you, dear, when the groups come to power again.
Women and children united by a struggle
Women and children stand together for a cause.
Going down
This world is going to ruin.
You've got to walk into the water
You need to go into the water.
With your sister and your daughter
Carrying your sister and daughter with you.
In this free world
In this world of freedom.
If I wore your shades could I share your point of view?
If I wore glasses like you, could I understand your views?
Could I make you feel better?
Can I help you feel good?
Paint a picture, write a letter?
Should I create an image or write a letter?
Well I know what you're saying
I understand what you are conveying.
But I see the things you do
However, I acknowledge your actions.
And it's much too dangerous
It's too risky.
To get closer to you
To get close to you.
With a pocketful of plastic
Carrying a wallet filled with credit cards.
Like a dollar on elastic
I am like a dollar with a rubber band around me.
In this free world
In this world of freedom.
(I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care)
(I wouldn't inform you if I didn't care).
And the ghettoes are full of mercedes benz
Ghettos are full of expensive cars.
And you'd never hurt a friend
You'd never harm a friend.
Who wouldn't tell you
Who wouldn't inform on you.
It's cold and it's going to get colder
It's cold, and it's going to get colder.
You may not get much older
You may die soon.
You're much too scared of living
You're too afraid to enjoy life.
And to die is a reliable exit
Death is a safe, dependable option.
So you push it and you test it
So you try and experiment with it.
With 'thunderbird' and 'rivin'
With these types of alcoholic drinks called 'Thunderbird' and 'Rivin.'
Got to take it got to grab it
Need to take it and grab it.
Got to get it up and shag it
Must get up and dance (a slang term of sexual dancing).
Going down
This world is going to ruins.
You've got to get into the water
You need to go into the water.
Like a lamb goes to the slaughter
Like a sheep going to the slaughterhouse.
In this free world baby
In this world of freedom.
(I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care)
(I wouldn't inform you if I didn't care).
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: K. MACCOLL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Qxir
Update 30/11/23: I have just learned of Shane's passing. The world is a lesser place without his devious creativity and raw lyricism. If you've never listened to his work, here's a song to get you started:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4v6aNjGFFk&ab_channel=ThePoguesOfficial
Second Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt93hxFmjppL5nLRAX94UrA
Merch: teespring.com/stores/qxir
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/qxir
Twitter: https://twitter.com/QxirYT
Discord: https://discord.gg/jZzvvwJ
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/qxiryt/
Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Qxir/
@Qxir
Update 30/11/23: I have just learned of Shane's passing. The world is a lesser place without his devious creativity and raw lyricism. If you've never listened to his work, here's a song to get you started:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4v6aNjGFFk&ab_channel=ThePoguesOfficial
Second Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt93hxFmjppL5nLRAX94UrA
Merch: teespring.com/stores/qxir
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/qxir
Twitter: https://twitter.com/QxirYT
Discord: https://discord.gg/jZzvvwJ
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/qxiryt/
Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Qxir/
@thebloxgamer2746
Love the vids hoping to see Chernobyl soon
@tom79013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqlLJXYtRWg Shane and Christy Moore singing Spancil Hill. One of the best versions ever
@splifstar85
Do a video on the Attack Of The Dead Men (an episode that happened during the First World War), as tales from the bottle
@Kanoshe
link to the intro music?
@kenkaniff8428
QXIR you gotta do sumat with your backdrop mate!! Love all you vids pal but C'mon mate! You're better than this. cheers mate 🤘🏻
@7000skeletons
"Everyone knows Bono, but over here we actually like Shane MacGowan."
Holy fuck, that's the most subtly savage line this man's dropped in months.
@ottodidakt3069
Proof of Irish good taste !
@pipedgolf4634
truth hurts sometimes haha
@shaungreer3350
One time my dads mate went to a bono concert
he started tapping the mic every 2 seconds or so and said “every time i tap on the mic a child in africa dies”
so then my dads mate yells out “well stop tapping the fucking mic then”