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.
Halloween
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A hundred times or more
I heard the wind blow down the street
The knocking at the door
But there was no one there
Though I looked everywhere
So was it all a dream?
The spirits of the past
The costumes and the masks
The shipwrecks and the ghosts
From up and down the coast
They've all come back to see
If we were meant to be
We can't escape our dreams
Oh Halloween
You must have followed me back home
And hid behind my back
No one could find me on their own
I'm off the beaten track
Well I was scared before
But I'm afraid no more
And nothing's as it seems
Halloween
The spirits of the past
The costumes and the masks
To me they don't disguise
The presence in your eyes
They turn their heads to see
If we were meant to be
A nightmare or a dream
Oh Halloween
In Kirsty MacColl's song "Halloween," the singer seems to be reflecting on a strange and eerie experience that took place on the holiday known for ghouls and ghosts. The first verse describes the sense of familiarity and luck that the singer has experienced throughout their life, before turning to the unsettling events of that night. They heard the wind blowing and someone knocking at the door, but when they looked, there was no one there. The singer wonders if it was all just a dream.
The chorus of the song focuses on the holiday itself, and the idea that on Halloween, the spirits and ghosts of the past come back to visit. They mingle with the people celebrating the holiday, wearing their costumes and masks. The singer reflects on their own experience, wondering if the strange events of the night were just a part of the Halloween festivities.
The second verse continues with the idea of the holiday spirits following the singer home. The singer seems to embrace the fear of Halloween, and feels more brave after their experience. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the idea that the spirits of Halloween are not to be taken lightly, and that they may be searching for something or someone specific.
Line by Line Meaning
I must have fallen on my feet
I have been lucky many times.
A hundred times or more
Countless times.
I heard the wind blow down the street
I heard the sound of the wind.
The knocking at the door
Hearing a knock on the door.
But there was no one there
No one was present.
Though I looked everywhere
I checked everywhere.
So was it all a dream?
Did it really happen or was it just a dream?
Oh Halloween
Referring to the holiday of Halloween.
The spirits of the past
Ghosts from previous times.
The costumes and the masks
People wearing disguises.
The shipwrecks and the ghosts
Ghosts from shipwrecks.
From up and down the coast
From various locations along the coast.
They've all come back to see
Ghosts have returned for some reason.
If we were meant to be
Wondering if fate brought people together.
We can't escape our dreams
Our dreams have an impact on our lives and we can't escape them.
You must have followed me back home
Halloween followed the artist home.
And hid behind my back
Halloween was hiding from the artist.
No one could find me on their own
The singer was difficult to locate.
I'm off the beaten track
The singer is in an uncommon or unique situation.
Well I was scared before
The artist was afraid previously.
But I'm afraid no more
The artist is no longer afraid.
And nothing's as it seems
Things are not always what they appear to be.
The presence in your eyes
The emotion or feeling conveyed through someone's eyes.
They turn their heads to see
Ghosts are curious and looking around.
A nightmare or a dream
Questioning if something is a scary nightmare or a pleasant dream.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KIRSTY ANNA MACCOLL, MARK EDWARD CASCIAN NEVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@victoriasmith8308
This woman is the most underrated songwriter of our times
@lazydog67
My favorite Kirsty song. I was lucky enough to see her several times live, she was brilliant. Much missed.
@juliamcclellan7284
such a talented lyricist. love her. Xx.
@TheDegradingSeeker
This song is awesome!
@kaymitchell1991
So glad I finally found the name of this musician! Heard her music several years ago and couldn't figure out what her name was, until 10 minutes ago! Found her by a search on duckduckgo, though unfortunately I had to make that inquiry by asking about the circumstances surrounding her death(It stuck out in my mind considering how tragic it was)...Sad that she was taken at such a young age. So talented and such a beautiful song.
@RexBaunsit
love this song. viva kirsty. happy weekend everyone! :)
@JoeChrisMorris
is this in E? RIP Kirsty. Gotta cover this. Only do a few of her early Stiff records on acoustic (They don't know,etc)
@warnerhedgehog1544
Trying to work out the chords and it ain't easy..
@LaFleurDeTruth
Warner Hedgehog did you ever work it out?
@warnerhedgehog1544
Katie Swaby y'know I don't think I did. I'll have a delve into the PC later and see how far I got.